Lies, Virtual Reality, and Conceptual Art—Spring/Summer 2026 Exhibitions at PHI

PHI in Montreal presents two spring/summer 2026 exhibitions: "Come See, Lies Lies" by Paola Pivi and "Other Worlds" by Jakob Kudsk Steensen. Pivi's show features surreal installations including wall-mounted shoes, suspended velvet mattresses, and a metal house with TV screens broadcasting false statements, blending fairy tale and satire. Steensen's exhibition comprises six major works from the past decade, using virtual reality, video games, and sound installations to explore ecological themes and digitized environments like Bora Bora and volcanic seabeds. Both exhibitions open April 23, 2026, and run through September 13, 2026.

Exhibitions in May: our selection of Parisian outings

This article, published by La Rédac with photos by Audrey de Sortiraparis, presents a curated selection of exhibitions opening in Paris and the Île-de-France region in May 2026. Highlights include a Giovanni Segantini retrospective at the Marmottan Monet Museum, a porcelain exhibition titled "Sèvres, a Rothschild Passion" at the Mobilier National, a comparative show of Michelangelo and Rodin at the Louvre Museum, the return of the Colors Festival with a street-art exhibition called Colors Light, a historical tribute to Madame de Sévigné at the Carnavalet Museum, a major Lee Miller retrospective at the Musée d'Art Moderne, a family-friendly Lego brick exhibition by Dirk Denoyelle at Espace Champerret, and a video game music exhibition at the Philharmonie de Paris.

Vincenzo Trione's new book aims to redefine the concept of the avant-garde (reviews by his students)

Il nuovo libro di Vincenzo Trione vuole ridefinire il concetto di avanguardia (le recensioni dei suoi allievi)

On March 9, 2026, at IULM University in Milan, Vincenzo Trione presented his new book *Rifare il mondo. Le età dell’avanguardia* (Einaudi, 2025). The event was part of the cultural program *Leonardo alla IULM*, which also featured pages from the Codex Atlanticus on loan from the Biblioteca Ambrosiana. Trione, a professor at IULM, discussed the book with four of his students: Anna Luigia De Simone, Vincenzo Di Rosa, Anna Calise, and Alessia Scaparra Seneca. The talk, titled "Nessuna parola caratterizza l’arte contemporanea più di avanguardia," explored the concept of the avant-garde, its historical legacy, and its contemporary reactivation through movements, manifestos, collectives, and cultural phenomena.

Producing Cinema Inside and With Video Games: A 30-Year Festival in Milan

Produrre cinema dentro e con i videogiochi. A Milano ci fanno un festival (da 30 anni)

The Milan Machinima Festival recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of machinima, the practice of creating audiovisual works and films within video game environments. The event, curated by scholar Matteo Bittanti at IULM University, explored the medium's dual origins in 1996: the community-driven "vernacular" style seen in the Quake-based 'Diary of a Camper' and the artistic approach pioneered by Miltos Manetas in his work 'Miracle'.

This beloved pop culture art gallery in L.A. is closing after 20 years — is AI to blame?

Gallery 1988, a pioneering Los Angeles institution that branded itself as the world's first pop culture-focused art gallery, will cease operations at the end of April after 20 years. Founded in 2004, the gallery became a cult favorite for its tribute exhibitions dedicated to films, video games, and television, often drawing massive crowds for shows like "Crazy 4 Cult." Owner Katie Sutton cited a historically weak art market and the loss of a physical storefront as primary factors in the decision to close.

With "Video Games & Music," the Philharmonie de Paris Gets Into the Game

Avec « Video Games & Music », la Philharmonie de Paris se prend au jeu

The Philharmonie de Paris has launched "Video Games & Music," an immersive exhibition exploring the history and evolution of video game music (VGM). Curated by Fanny Rebillard and Jean Zeid, the show features a non-linear scenography inspired by open-world games, incorporating 29 playable consoles, archival photography by Ira Nowinski, and contemporary art by Mounir Ayache and Invader. The exhibition traces the medium's journey from 8-bit bleeps to complex orchestral scores and its influence on club culture and mainstream pop.

Creativity in Culmination: Senior Art Exhibit & Reception

Wittenberg University’s Art Department recently debuted "Prologue to Somewhere," a senior thesis exhibition held in the Ann Miller and Thompson Galleries. The showcase features diverse works from nine graduating seniors, ranging from traditional oil painting and stoneware ceramics to digital media, photography, and interactive video game design. Notable projects include Francesca Heidinger’s Pink Floyd-inspired abstract paintings, Kris Such’s queer horror comic concept art, and Molly Kirkpatrick’s mental health-focused digital experience.

Super Mario Galaxy is the first true video game film

Super Mario Galaxy è il primo vero film videoludico

The article analyzes the 2023 animated film 'Super Mario Galaxy – Il film,' arguing it represents a significant evolution in video game adaptations. The film, a sequel to 'Super Mario Bros. – Il film,' abandons traditional narrative concerns and instead structures itself like a video game, constantly introducing new characters, power-ups, and scenarios directly from the Super Mario game series, as if the protagonists are moving through game levels.