Shoptalk: New Guggenheim Director Melissa Chiu on How She Got the Job

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, transitioning from her long-standing leadership at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The appointment was the result of a confidential search led by Mariët Westermann, the Guggenheim’s overall director and CEO, who determined that the expanding global "constellation" of museums required a dedicated leader for the New York flagship. Chiu will officially assume the role in September, just ahead of the highly anticipated opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2025.

Why Contemporary Artists Are Raiding the Renaissance Toolkit

Three contemporary artists—Alison Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Bühler-Rose, and Nick Doyle—are reviving the Renaissance woodworking techniques of intarsia and marquetry in their current exhibitions. Taylor is showing marquetry hybrid paintings at Jessica Silverman Gallery in San Francisco, Bühler-Rose is presenting a solo booth with Stems Gallery at Independent, and Doyle is also participating in the trend. Their work draws inspiration from the Gubbio Studiolo at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a 15th-century trompe-l'œil room that exemplifies the decorative inlay tradition.

‘Harlem has always been evolving’: inside the Studio Museum’s $160m new home

The Studio Museum in Harlem is set to inaugurate its new $160 million, purpose-built home on Manhattan’s 125th Street. Designed by Adjaye Associates in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, the 82,000-square-foot facility nearly doubles the museum's previous exhibition space and replaces a repurposed 1914 bank building that lacked essential infrastructure like loading docks and large elevators. This milestone marks the first time in the institution's history that it will operate out of a structure specifically designed to support its mission of championing artists of African descent.

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan Named Director of Smithsonian American Art Museum

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan has been appointed as the new director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in Washington, DC, effective September 8. She returns to SAAM, where she began her career and later served as chief curator, from her current position as executive director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. She succeeds acting director Jane Carpenter-Rock, who will remain as deputy director.

trump executive orders arts 2605142

President Donald Trump’s return to office has triggered a sweeping overhaul of the American cultural landscape through executive orders and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Key actions include the dissolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at the Smithsonian, the cancellation of thousands of National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants, and the removal of high-profile Biden appointees from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum board. These measures are accompanied by new tariffs and immigration policies that threaten the international art trade and cross-border collaborations.

Alex Katz | Three Trees - 알렉스카츠 - Alex Katz Dancing with reality… (2018) | For Sale

This article is a sales listing for Alex Katz's 2018 silkscreen print "Three Trees - 알렉스카츠 - Alex Katz Dancing with reality… (2018)", offered by Frank Fluegel Gallery in Nuremberg, Germany. The work is a 20-color silkscreen print measuring 37 × 59 inches, part of a limited edition of 60, hand-signed by the artist and priced at $16,500. The listing includes details about the artist's background, his signature style of flat color planes influenced by advertising aesthetics and Pop art, and his exhibition history at major institutions worldwide.

Is This What “Made in America” Looks Like?

Christopher Payne's exhibition "Made in America: The Industrial Photography of Christopher Payne" at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum showcases 72 large-format photographs documenting active American factories and manufacturing processes. The trained architect turned photographer spent a decade visiting dozens of production sites across the United States, from the New York Times printing plant in Queens to the Bollman Hat Company in Pennsylvania, capturing workers' craftsmanship and the intricate steps involved in making everything from Peeps candies to jet engines. The exhibition is organized into three sections—traditional handcraft, large-scale production, and cutting-edge technologies—and coincides with the Smithsonian's celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary.

A new director for the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Une nouvelle directrice pour le Smithsonian American Art Museum

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, 75, has been appointed director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), succeeding Stephanie Stebich after a vacancy of nearly 17 months. Hartigan, who began her career at SAAM in the 1970s and rose to chief curator before leaving in 2003, most recently served as executive director of the Peabody Essex Museum, becoming its first woman to lead the institution. She will assume her new role on September 8.

Melissa Chiu Appointed Head of Guggenheim New York

Melissa Chiu nommée à la tête du Guggenheim New York

Melissa Chiu has been appointed as the new director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, effective September 1. Currently the head of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., Chiu succeeds Mariët Westermann, who will transition to a strategic role overseeing the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s international network. Chiu brings a proven track record of fundraising, having secured nearly $250 million during her tenure at the Hirshhorn, and is credited with significantly increasing attendance and diversifying the museum's collections.

IMLS Spared in Legal Battle—But Threat of Budget Cuts Looms

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with the American Library Association and the AFSCME union, effectively halting President Donald Trump’s executive attempt to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Following a series of legal defeats where courts ruled that only Congress has the authority to eliminate federal agencies, the administration withdrew its appeal and reinstated previously terminated grants. However, the threat remains as the proposed 2027 federal budget once again seeks to zero out funding for the IMLS, the NEA, and the NEH.

'Something Borrowed, Something New' at Sarasota Art Museum features 85 works from 10 private collections

Ten art collectors from Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota have loaned 85 works from their private collections to the Sarasota Art Museum for the exhibition 'Something Borrowed, Something New.' The show features pieces by renowned artists including Kara Walker, Ai Weiwei, Alex Katz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Chuck Close, Hank Willis Thomas, and Yoko Ono, with many prints coming from Graphicstudio at the University of South Florida. The exhibition was conceived by executive director Virginia Shearer after visiting collectors' homes and was inspired by a trip to the Renwick Museum at the Smithsonian.

Alex Katz | Porcelain Beauty 1 (2021) | For Sale

Alex Katz's 2021 porcelain enamel sculpture "Porcelain Beauty 1" (edition 18/25) is being offered for sale through Palm Beach Modern Auctions. The work, measuring 24 by 20.75 inches and mounted on aluminum, was printed and published by Lococo Fine Art Publishing in St. Louis, Missouri, and comes with its original crate and installation brochure. Its provenance includes Vertu Fine Art in Boca Raton, Florida, and a private collection in Florida.

And We Shall Go Through Their Hills Without Much Delay

This article documents three journeys into and out of Yunnan, China, spanning from 1874 to 2023. It begins with British interpreter Augustus Raymond Margary's failed colonial expedition to establish a trade route, which ended in his violent death and contributed to unequal treaties opening Southwest China. It then follows a Naxi student named Xueshan in 1937, whose railway journey introduced modern timekeeping to the region, and finally describes the construction of the Burma Road, a critical WWII supply route. The narrative concludes with the artist Cheng Xinhao retracing these routes on foot from Kunming toward Burma over a year and a half, reflecting on history, bodily experience, and the layers of infrastructure that have reshaped the landscape.

Glenstone Is Celebrating 20 Years Of Art, Architecture, & Nature

Glenstone Museum in Potomac, Maryland, is celebrating its 20th anniversary as one of the largest private contemporary art museums in the United States. Founded in 2006, the institution offers a unique, immersive experience across 230 acres, combining world-class art, minimalist architecture, and expansive nature trails. The museum currently features major works by iconic artists such as Jackson Pollock, Ruth Asawa, and Kerry James Marshall within its two primary structures, The Gallery and The Pavilions.

Smithsonian’s American Art Museum Appoints New Director Amid Turbulent Moment

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) has appointed Lynda Roscoe Hartigan as its new director, concluding a 17-month search. Hartigan, who is leaving her position as executive director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum, will begin her role in September, succeeding acting director Jane Carpenter-Rock. She previously worked at SAAM as a curator in the 1970s and has held senior leadership roles at the Peabody Essex Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum.

Top 5 Art Exhibits in Orange County This Spring

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Smithsonian’s First Major Exhibit Of African LGBTQ+ Art On Display Through August

The National Museum of African Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution, has opened "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art," its first major exhibition dedicated to African LGBTQ+ art. Featuring 60 works by artists from over a dozen countries across Africa and its diaspora, the show includes paintings, sculptures, textiles, photography, film, and video. Co-curated by Serubiri Moses and Kevin D. Dumouchelle, the exhibition highlights collaboration, joy, and lived experience, with artists such as Zanele Muholi, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Jim Chuchu, Ṣọlá Olúlòde, and Leilah Babirye. Originally scheduled to open in May 2025 to coincide with WorldPride in Washington, the exhibition was postponed to January 2026 due to a Smithsonian budget situation, but ultimately opened as planned.

World’s first AI art museum opens in LA

Dataland, the world's first museum dedicated to generative AI art, will open in Los Angeles on June 20. Founded by media artist Refik Anadol and his wife Efsun Erkılıç, the museum is located in the Grand LA cultural complex alongside The Broad, MOCA, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Spanning 3,250 square meters, it debuts with the exhibition "Machine Dreams: Rainforest," featuring a machine-generated rainforest created by Anadol's proprietary Large Nature Model, trained on data from the Smithsonian Institution, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the Natural History Museum in London.

HistoryMiami rebrands as Museum of Miami, a ‘museum without walls’

HistoryMiami, the historical museum of South Florida, has rebranded as the Museum of Miami, adopting a 'museum without walls' concept. The change reflects a shift away from a traditional brick-and-mortar institution toward a more flexible, community-engaged model that will operate across various locations and digital platforms throughout Miami.

Summer Exhibitions Coming to Venues in East & South Texas

Summer exhibitions are opening across East and South Texas at venues including the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, the Beeville Art Museum, the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of East Texas in Lufkin, and the Rockport Center for the Arts. Highlights include Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee's 'Magic Water' at the Rockport Center for the Arts, a 2026 FotoFest Biennial Participating Space; Jennifer Arnold's 'A Layered Space: Coming Up For Air (v.6)'; Elena Rodz's 'Byways' as part of the Past Master Artists | Rockport Legends exhibition; Bill Pangburn's 'Printed Traces – A Neches River Journal' at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas; and Woody Gwyn's 'Skylight On Water, Trees, Rock and Road' at the Art Museum of South Texas.

This Spring at the Everhart Museum

The Everhart Museum in Scranton has unveiled its spring and summer programming, featuring a diverse lineup of exhibitions and community events. Highlights include a NASA-developed immersive exhibition on the Hubble Space Telescope, a long-term installation of Don Clark’s miniature recreations of Scranton landmarks, and a first-of-its-kind exhibition dedicated to the television series "The Office." The season also features collaborative events such as Scranton’s 160th Birthday Block Party and the Electric City Flower Show weekend.

Review | An abruptly postponed Smithsonian show of African LGBTQ+ art is now open

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art has opened "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art," its first major exhibition dedicated to African LGBTQ+ artists. The show, which was abruptly postponed earlier, features works that celebrate queer life through themes of joy, family, and belonging, while also addressing the darkness and loss faced by LGBTQ+ communities globally.

Peabody Essex Museum director steps down to lead Smithsonian American Art Museum

Lynda Roscoe Hartigan is stepping down as director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts, to become the director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) in Washington, D.C., starting September 8. Hartigan, who began her career as an intern at SAAM, previously served as PEM's first chief curator in 2003, deputy director in 2016, and returned as director in 2021 after a brief stint at the Royal Ontario Museum. During her tenure at PEM, she oversaw the reinstallation of a 40,000-square-foot wing, guided a five-year strategic plan, and expanded programs in global fashion, contemporary art, photography, and American art.

Route 66, a ‘Linear Museum Stretched Across Eight States,’ Turns 100

Cultural institutions across the United States are launching a series of exhibitions and preservation projects to commemorate the centennial of Route 66. From the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to local galleries along the 2,448-mile corridor, these programs examine the highway's evolution from a vital migration artery to a kitschy symbol of Americana. The initiatives aim to provide a nuanced look at the road’s history, including the experiences of marginalized travelers who relied on the Green Book to navigate segregated landscapes.

Rare Pahari Paintings Go On Display In Washington Exhibition

An exhibition titled “Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms” has opened at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, part of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., running through July 26. The show features 48 rare paintings created for Hindu kings in the Pahari region of northern India between the 1620s and 1830s, highlighting diverse styles from lyrical and naturalistic to boldly colored and abstracted. Key works include pieces acquired from art historian Catherine Glynn Benkaim and collector Ralph Benkaim, some never publicly exhibited before, along with loans from the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Kingston selected as launchpad for Smithsonian's 'Americans' exhibition

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian, in collaboration with Museums on Main Street, has launched its nationally touring exhibition "Americans" at the Cornell Creative Arts Center in Kingston, New York. Kingston is the first of 125 communities across the country to host the exhibition, which will travel for six years as part of the Rev250 commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibition explores how Native American history and identity have been portrayed and often misunderstood, challenging visitors to reconsider familiar narratives like Pocahontas, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and the Trail of Tears through interactive elements and digital content.