ArtReview's Summer 2026 issue explores the theme of place and geography in contemporary art, moving beyond national identity as a political construct. The cover features Uzbek filmmaker Saodat Ismailova, photographed in Paris, whose work examines Central Asia's Soviet-influenced landscapes and suppressed histories. Other featured artists include Palestinian filmmaker Shuruq Harb, Colombian artist Ana María Devis, and historical figures Marcel Duchamp and Francis Picabia, with essays on their relationships to land, domestic space, and artistic legacy. The issue also includes interviews, exhibition reviews of artists like Marina Abramović and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and book reviews covering philosophers and art theorists.
This issue matters because it reframes a pressing geopolitical topic—national identity—through the lens of geography and ecology, offering a nuanced perspective on how artists engage with place beyond borders. By featuring artists from Central Asia, Palestine, and Latin America alongside canonical Western figures, ArtReview underscores the diversity of contemporary art practice and the ongoing relevance of land, memory, and environment in shaping cultural discourse. The inclusion of reviews and critical essays also positions the magazine as a key arbiter of current artistic and intellectual trends.