Our pick of the best museum and gallery shows to see in Chicago this spring

Chicago’s spring art season is highlighted by a series of significant institutional and gallery exhibitions, ranging from deeply personal solo debuts to expansive cultural surveys. Key highlights include Dabin Ahn’s first solo show at Document, featuring paintings that explore grief and impermanence following the death of his father, and a retrospective of the late Lucas Samaras at the Art Institute of Chicago. Additionally, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is launching a major group exhibition titled "Dancing the Revolution," which examines the political and cultural impact of dancehall and reggaetón through the work of over 35 artists.

UAE art guide: 12 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, including Gallery Isabelle's 20th anniversary show

The UAE art scene is currently hosting a diverse array of exhibitions across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, despite regional disruptions. Key highlights include a major Picasso retrospective at Louvre Abu Dhabi, a 10th-century anniversary celebration at 421 Arts Campus titled 'Rays, Ripples, Residue,' and the inaugural photography exhibition at Sharjah Art Foundation’s new Al Manakh venue. These shows range from historical surveys of the human form to contemporary explorations of UAE’s urban development and climate change.

7 Shows to See in Milan Right Now

Inside Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Radical Reinvention

Milan’s art scene takes center stage during the Miart fair with a diverse array of institutional and gallery exhibitions. Highlights include Cao Fei’s exploration of global farming and technology at Pirelli HangarBicocca, Anselm Kiefer’s monumental tributes to female alchemists at Palazzo Reale, and a survey of Italian conceptualist Salvo at Pinacoteca di Brera.

5 noteworthy art gallery exhibitions to check out during Expo Chicago

Expo Chicago returns to Navy Pier from April 9-12, featuring over 130 international galleries and anchoring a city-wide week of major art programming. Local institutions and commercial galleries are strategically timing their most significant exhibitions to coincide with the fair, including a major presentation of Chicago Imagist Roger Brown at Gray gallery and architectural collages by Marshall Brown at Western Exhibitions.

An Analog Tether

A new wave of gallery exhibitions is championing analog physicality and personal intimacy as a direct counter-response to the rise of AI-generated imagery. Artists like Ben Wolf Noam and Joseph Geagan are utilizing traditional mediums such as charcoal, lithography, and oil paint to capture spontaneous, sentimental moments of human connection, from family dinners to portraits of friends. These works emphasize the "hospitable mess" of real life, prioritizing the recognizable faces and tangible textures that AI often flattens.

Nature photography exhibit now open at Mason City art museum

The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum in Mason City has opened a solo exhibition titled "Ray Colby: Nature Photographer" in its Kinney-Lindstrom Gallery. The show features digital photographs printed on canvas, focusing on three specific themes: backyard insects and arachnids of the Midwest, urban birds from Minneapolis, and migrating Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin. The works on display will be sold via auction to benefit the museum's programming.

April 2026 Opportunities: Open Calls, Residencies, and Grants for Artists

Colossal's monthly list for April 2026 details numerous open calls, grants, and residencies for artists worldwide. Key opportunities include the Earth 2026 Art Awards, the Hopper Prize grants totaling $13,000, and the Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize in Australia, alongside calls for fiber art, gallery exhibitions, and magazine publications.

Grigoris Semitecolo at Ramiken, New York

Grigoris Semitecolo, a Cycladic artist known for creating plaster reproductions of ancient figurines for souvenir shops and revered as an uncompromising, provocative figure in the 1960s Athens art scene, is the subject of a presentation at Ramiken gallery in New York. The exhibition highlights his work and legacy, bringing his unique practice and influential, deadpan persona to a contemporary international audience.

Sewickley art exhibitions support Youth Arts Possibilities program

The Sewickley community is hosting a series of art exhibitions designed to benefit the Youth Arts Possibilities program. These local showcases feature a variety of works intended to raise awareness and financial support for youth-centric creative initiatives within the region.

Pullen Arts Center Gallery Exhibitions

The Pullen Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, is hosting a series of gallery exhibitions. These shows feature works by local and regional artists, showcasing a diverse range of media and artistic practices.

Art Life gallery and shop to open on Forest Road

Artist Michael Twery is set to open Art Life, a new hybrid gallery and retail space located at 2912 Old Forest Road in Lynchburg. The grand opening is scheduled for April 19, 2026, featuring a diverse collection that spans fine art, handmade crafts, and unique collectibles.

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Alserkal Avenue in Dubai is expanding its traditional Art Week into a five-week "Art Month" running from April 18 to May 18. This strategic extension includes 16 gallery exhibitions, over 100 public events, and a new commercially focused group show featuring 12 UAE-based galleries. The initiative aims to provide a more sustainable platform for the local art ecosystem, especially as the Art Dubai fair has been rescheduled to mid-May and adapted in response to regional instability.

8 Must-See Solo Gallery Shows in April

Galerie has curated a selection of eight essential solo gallery exhibitions across the United States for April, highlighting diverse practices from New York to Los Angeles. Key features include David Smalling’s debut at Templon, where he employs Old Master techniques to critique gender expectations and social hierarchies, and Zhang Huan’s first New York solo show in over a decade at 125 Newbury, which pairs his legendary 1990s performance documentation with his signature incense ash paintings.

Still Thinking About the Fall 2026 Runways? Here Are 8 Can’t-Miss NYC Exhibits to Dress Up and See This April

New York City’s April art calendar features a diverse array of major institutional shows and gallery exhibitions, ranging from Italian Renaissance masters to contemporary experimental collectives. Highlights include a massive Raphael retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the first major U.S. museum exhibition for Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck, and the 82nd edition of the Whitney Biennial featuring 56 multidisciplinary artists.