A new Istanbul gallery is offering an outlet for Iran’s artists

Shiva Zahed Gallery has opened in Istanbul’s Pera district, specifically dedicated to showcasing Iranian contemporary art. The gallery's inaugural exhibition, "Echoes," features works by the influential artist Fereydoun Ave and installation artist Shaqayeq Arabi. The opening was significantly delayed and reconfigured after civil unrest in Iran and a communication blackout prevented the founder from coordinating with the 20 emerging artists originally scheduled for the debut.

Sound-based Holy See pavilion opens at Venice Biennale as Vatican’s contemporary art ambitions grow

The Holy See's pavilion at the Venice Biennale has opened, featuring a sound-based exhibition titled "The Ear is the Eye of the Soul" (9 May–22 November). The show, inspired by the medieval Benedictine nun Saint Hildegard of Bingen, includes commissioned audio works by high-profile artists and musicians such as Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Patti Smith, Jim Jarmusch, and Precious Okoyomon. The exhibition takes place across two Venetian sites—the Mystical Garden of the Discalced Carmelite and the Santa Maria Ausiliatrice complex—and is co-organized by Hans Ulrich Obrist, artistic director of the Serpentine Gallery, and curator Ben Vickers, in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective.

pope leo first general address van gogh sower at sunset

Pope Leo XIV, in his first general address, referenced Vincent van Gogh's 1888 painting *The Sower at Sunset* as a metaphor for faith and divine guidance. He noted that behind the sower, van Gogh painted the grain already ripe, interpreting the sun as the central figure of the biblical parable. The address highlighted the Pope's engagement with art as a means of spiritual reflection.

The National Gallery's new exhibition includes Van Gogh's brief foray into Neo-Impressionism

The National Gallery in London opens 'Radical Harmony: Helene Kröller-Müller’s Neo-Impressionists' tomorrow, running until 8 February 2026. The exhibition features works by Van Gogh’s Parisian colleagues, including Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, and highlights Van Gogh’s brief experimentation with Neo-Impressionist dot-like technique. A key work on display is Van Gogh's 'The Sower' (June 1888), which also recently received a papal mention by Pope Leo XIV, who referenced the painting in his first general audience at the Vatican, interpreting its sun as a symbol of God.

Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Jim Jarmusch Among Sound Artists Commissioned for Vatican Pavilion at Venice Biennale

The Vatican has announced a star-studded lineup of musicians and artists for its pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, titled "The Ear Is the Eye of the Soul." Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, the exhibition features commissioned sound works from figures including Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Patti Smith, and the late Alexander Kluge. The project is inspired by the 12th-century mystic Saint Hildegard of Bingen and will be staged across two historic Venetian locations: the Mystical Garden of the Discalced Carmelites and the Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice.

conclave hidden ritual

On May 8, 2025, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel signaling the election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost has strong ties to Peru and was appointed Prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops by Pope Francis in 2023. The article explores the secretive process of the papal conclave, noting that 133 cardinals voted under Michelangelo's famed ceilings, and draws parallels to the 2024 film *Conclave* which some cardinals reportedly used for insight.

about last week an orbit through the highs and sighs of new yorks art fair multiverse

Writer and critic Domenick Ammirati chronicles a whirlwind week in New York during Frieze Week, visiting art fairs, exhibitions, and social events. Highlights include Jeff Koons' Hulk sculptures at Gagosian's Frieze booth, discovering painter Karol Palczak at Emalin gallery, and attending the group painting show "R U Still Painting???" curated by the collective FALCON in a raw Midtown office space. Ammirati notes a subdued, less intoxicated atmosphere compared to previous years, reflecting a broader unease in the art world.

pope leo xiv olafur eliasson greenland ice blessing

At the Raising Hope conference in Rome, Pope Leo XIV blessed a 20,000-year-old piece of Greenland glacial ice brought onstage by artist Olafur Eliasson. The ice, transported from Nuup Kangerlua fjord with geologist Minik Rosing, had already broken away from the Greenland ice sheet and was melting. Eliasson documented the event on Instagram, calling it a striking moment that underscored the connection between nature and humanity.

pope repatriate indigenous artifacts canada

The Vatican has repatriated 62 Indigenous cultural treasures to Canada, following years of negotiations that began with a visit by the late Pope Francis in 2022. The objects, which include a kayak made of driftwood and seal skin used for beluga whale hunting, were first sent to Rome for a 1925 exhibition organized by Pope Pius XI and remained there until Pope Francis called for their return. The handover was unveiled this week at a warehouse belonging to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, where Indigenous elders and experts are now examining each piece to trace its origins. Vancouver Archbishop Richard Smith and Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, spoke at a news conference about the significance of the return.

The art of being Pope Leo: from a Raphael portrait to the first pontiff to be captured on film

The article examines the artistic and historical legacy of popes named Leo, following the election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV on 8 May. It traces the name through figures like Leo I (Leo the Great), Leo IX, and Leo X, focusing on Raphael's iconic 1518-20 portrait of Pope Leo X with cardinals Giulio de' Medici and Luigi de Rossi. The piece also discusses Raphael's frescoes in the Vatican's Stanze and Loggia, which depict earlier Leonine popes, and highlights the Medici family's role in bankrolling the Renaissance.

president zelenskyy gives pope leo ukrainian icon

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Pope Leo XIV with a Ukrainian religious icon painted on a fragment of an artillery crate from the front lines in the Kharkiv region, following the Pope's inaugural Mass on May 18, 2025. Zelenskyy described the icon, depicting the Virgin Mary and child, as a symbol of life that must be protected, referencing children affected by Russia's invasion. The meeting in Vatican City also included discussions about peace talks, with the Pope offering to host negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

Painting of St. Rose of Lima is part of Walters Art Museum exhibition

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore has unveiled a new permanent installation of Latin American art, featuring a rare 18th-century painting titled "The Allegory of St. Rosa of Peru" by an anonymous artist from the Cuzco School. The oil-on-canvas depicts St. Rose of Lima, the first canonized saint from the New World, emerging from a giant rose alongside an allegorical female figure representing the Americas and a stylized Inca ruler. The artwork, dated between 1730 and 1760, is a rare survivor of colonial-era paintings that were often destroyed after the Tupac Amaru uprising.

The Vatican brings Hildegard of Bingen to the Biennale. "The ear is the eye of the soul", by Brian Eno and Patti Smith

The Holy See Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, titled "The Ear is the Eye of the Soul," centers on the 12th-century Benedictine abbess and visionary Hildegard of Bingen. Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, the pavilion spans two Venetian venues—the Mystical Garden of the Discalced Carmelites and the Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice—and features new sound works by 24 artists, musicians, and poets including Brian Eno, Patti Smith, FKA Twigs, Meredith Monk, and Jim Jarmusch. The title is borrowed from the final work of German director Alexander Kluge, who died in March 2026, and his monumental film installation forms a core part of the exhibition.

Genuflecting Before “Don Colossus”

A 15-foot-tall gold-leafed bronze statue of Donald Trump, titled "Don Colossus," was unveiled at his National Doral golf club in Miami, Florida, ahead of the G20 summit. The statue, funded by $450,000 raised by cryptocurrency moguls and sculpted by Alan Cottrill (founder of Four Star Pizza), depicts Trump raising a triumphant fist with a plaque reading "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!" The unveiling was organized by televangelist Mark Burns of "Pastors for Trump," who posted that the statue was "not a golden calf," and was attended by evangelical Christian leaders and reportedly some Hassidic rabbis.

The papal residence of Castel Gandolfo had been opened to museum visits by Pope Francis, now Pope Leo closes it again

La residenza papale di Castel Gandolfo era stata aperta a visite museali da Papa Francesco, ora Papa Leone la chiude di nuovo

Pope Leo XIV is closing the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo to the public as of July 2026, ending nearly a decade of museum access initiated by Pope Francis. Online ticket sales stop on June 30, and the palace will revert to its original function as the pope's summer residence. The decision follows preparatory works begun in May 2025 and is partly motivated by security concerns, as the current temporary lodging at Villa Barberini has logistical and access-control issues.

new mural at chicago rate field pope leo xiv white sox

A new mural at Chicago's Rate Field commemorates Pope Leo XIV (formerly Robert Prevost, known as "Father Bob") attending Game 1 of the 2005 World Series as a White Sox fan. The mural, located near Section 140, features the pope in regalia with hands raised, above a screenshot from the Fox broadcast showing him in White Sox gear alongside his friend Ed Schmit. The artwork honors both the papal election and Schmit, a lifelong Sox fan who died in 2020 and had predicted Prevost would become pope.

These colors will enchant you. An exhibition of Niehliubka weavers opened at the Art Museum

On May 7, the National Art Museum of Belarus opened the exhibition "Harmony of the World of Niehliubka Weavers," showcasing traditional weaving from the village of Niehliubka in the Vetka District. The display features about 50 textile works from the museum's collection, along with tools, rare costume elements, and photographs provided by the Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life and the Vetka Museum of Old Believer and Belarusian Traditions named after Shklyarau. This tradition, which originated in the 17th century, includes towels, clothing, and interior items made with original weaving and embroidery techniques.

Fleurs De Villes blooms on Mag Mile

Fleurs De Villes, a floral art exhibition featuring mannequins made with real flowers, has returned to the Magnificent Mile in Chicago for a spring weekend. The event is held at 900 N. Michigan Shops and this year's theme is inspired by "Downton Abbey," ahead of the upcoming film based on the TV series. Local florists from the city and suburbs created handmade floral displays, with demonstrations scheduled throughout the weekend. The exhibition is free and open to the public through Sunday.