UAE art guide: 11 museum and gallery exhibitions to see, from Picasso to the Baghdad Modern Art Group

The article presents a guide to 11 current museum and gallery exhibitions across the UAE, following the conclusion of Art Dubai 2026. Highlights include "Picasso, The Figure" at Louvre Abu Dhabi, which examines Pablo Picasso's reinvention of the human body through works from the Musée National Picasso–Paris; "From the Perspective of Language" at The Third Line, featuring Sara Naim's paintings and video work; and "Move, pause, return" at Gallery Isabelle, marking its 20th anniversary with daily unveilings by artists including Hassan Sharif and Mohammed Kazem. Other notable shows include "Reflections: Modern and Contemporary Art from the Villain Collection" at Bassam Freiha Art Foundation.

10 exhibitions and new street art murals to discover this summer

10 expos et nouvelles fresques de street art à découvrir cet été

Beaux Arts Magazine rounds up ten must-see street art exhibitions and new murals across France for summer 2026. Highlights include the group show "We Are [Still] Here" at the Petit Palais in Paris, featuring over 70 artists such as Invader, Shepard Fairey, and eL Seed; a double retrospective of pioneer Ernest Pignon-Ernest at the Inguimbertine library-museum in Carpentras and the Musée Ziem in Martigues; the colossal "Beyond the Streets" exhibition at La Villette in Paris, with over 100 artists from Keith Haring to JR; and JR's immersive installation "La Caverne du Pont-Neuf" on the Pont-Neuf bridge, complete with a soundtrack by Thomas Bangalter.

Event: Jayden Ali and Simone Brewster, Off the Record

ArtReview and Ursula magazine have partnered to host a monthly talk series in a Mayfair wine bar, featuring intimate conversations with creative visionaries. The upcoming event on June 9 will spotlight architect and artist Jayden Ali and artist Simone Brewster, who will discuss their inspirations and working methods. Jayden Ali is a founding director of JA Projects, a London Mayor's Design Advocate, and co-curator of the British Pavilion at the 2023 Venice Biennale. Simone Brewster is a London-based artist exploring identity and cultural memory through sculpture, painting, and installation, with her work held in major collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.

Fabio Mauri was born 100 years ago and has never stopped being relevant. The centenary celebrations

Fabio Mauri nasceva 100 anni fa e non ha mai smesso di essere attuale. Le celebrazioni del centenario

Fabio Mauri, born in Rome on April 1, 1926, would have turned 100 this year. The article commemorates the centenary of the Italian artist, known for his multidisciplinary practice spanning installation, performance, painting, sculpture, writing, and theater. It highlights a seminal 1980 installation in Florence where he dyed the water of the Palazzina Reale's basin red, a pointed critique of the fascist regime that inaugurated the building in 1935. The piece also recalls his famous performance "Che cosa è il fascismo" (1971) and his projection of Pasolini's "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" onto the filmmaker's body in 1975. The centenary is marked by a cover feature in Artribune Magazine issue 90, distributed from the Venice Biennale opening through June, supported by the Scientific Committee and Studio Fabio Mauri.

15 Art Shows to See in Los Angeles This Summer

Hyperallergic's summer guide highlights 15 art shows across Los Angeles, featuring exhibitions that challenge the status quo. Highlights include Jon Rubin's 'National Museum of the Aftermath' at Oxy Arts, focusing on America's racial reckoning; a survey of Ulises Carrión's bookworks at JOAN; Scott Carrillo Azevedo's paintings on the American home at Long Beach Museum of Art; and 'Semiotext(e): Desert Islands' at ICA LA, exploring the influential publisher's fusion of theory and vernacular culture. Other shows include punk ephemera at the Skirball, Odilon Redon's portraiture, Willie Birch's papier-mâché works, and Samella Lewis's woodcuts.

Figurative Expressionist Painter Jay Milder Dies at 92

Jay Milder, a Figurative Expressionist painter and co-founder of City Gallery in New York, has died at age 92 from a stroke. Milder, who moved from Omaha to New York after high school, was a bold artist and cooperative gallerist who championed informal, improvisational works. He co-founded City Gallery with Red Grooms in 1958, hosting early New York shows for now-revered artists including Claes Oldenburg and Jim Dine. His series "Subway Runners" (1960–64) debuted at Martha Jackson Gallery in 1964 and was revisited in a 2022 solo exhibition at Eric Firestone Gallery, which represented him since 2022. His works are held in major institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum and the New Museum.

Julio Le Parc (1928-2026)

Julio Le Parc, the Argentine-born pioneer of optical and kinetic art, died in Paris on May 30, 2026, at age 97. A co-founder of the Groupe de recherche d'art visuel (GRAV) in 1960, he rejected the myth of the inspired artist in favor of collective work, industrial materials, and reproducible devices that engaged the viewer's physical movement. His career included winning the Grand Prix international de peinture at the Venice Biennale in 1966, political activism during May 1968 (leading to his temporary expulsion from France), and major exhibitions at institutions such as the Palais de Tokyo, Centre Pompidou-Metz, and Pérez Art Museum Miami.

The most beautiful Parisian museum terraces to enjoy the sunny days

Les plus belles terrasses de musées parisiens pour profiter des beaux jours

Beaux Arts Magazine has published a guide to the best museum terraces in Paris for enjoying the sunny days of spring and summer. The article highlights five standout spots: Rose Bakery at the Musée de la Vie romantique, Joli at the Musée Carnavalet, the Grand Café at the Grand Palais, Corail at the Musée d'Art moderne, and Sama at the Institut du monde arabe. Each terrace is described for its unique atmosphere, from the bucolic garden of the Musée de la Vie romantique to the spectacular colonnade of the Grand Palais, with details on chefs, menus, and seasonal highlights.

Photographer Catherine Opie is everywhere all at once this spring

Photographer Catherine Opie is experiencing an extraordinary year in 2026, with multiple major exhibitions opening simultaneously across Europe and Los Angeles. A career-spanning survey at London’s National Portrait Gallery will travel to Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy, while other shows appear in Kassel, Germany, and Trondheim, Norway. In Los Angeles, her new exhibition “Holding Blue” opens May 28 at Regen Projects, featuring 44 images of Norwegian mountain landscapes shot over 20 days in early 2024, accompanied by nine ceramic sculptures. Her work also appears in group shows at the Autry Museum of the American West, Hauser & Wirth, and David Zwirner. Opie, who retired from UCLA after serving as chair of the art department and teaching photography for more than 20 years, describes this period as the “Catherine Opie World Tour 2026.”

Artists & Mothers Announces 2026 Recipients of Childcare Grants

New York City nonprofit Artists & Mothers has named the 2026 recipients of its $25,000 childcare grant for artists who identify as mothers. The four awardees—Sara Cwynar, Nickola Pottinger, Trisha Baga, and Mimi Ọnụọha—work across photography, sculpture, collage, video, and multimedia installation. The grant covers nine months of childcare for emerging and mid-career artists raising a child under three, and this is the program's third cycle.

Artists Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian to Launch New Residency Program in Menorca

Artists Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian are launching a new residency program called The Residency at Casa Gràcia on the island of Menorca, set to begin next spring. The self-directed residencies, open to three artists and two writers per cohort, require no public presentation or outcome. Applications are open until July 31, with an advisory board including Hank Willis Thomas, Colson Whitehead, and representatives from Hauser & Wirth. The historic Casa Gràcia, built in 1860 and recently renovated by Laplace and Maimó&Brosa, features a studio, study, and walled garden in Mahon.

Louvre Reveals Architects for $1 Billion Expansion

The Louvre has announced an international team of architects—New York's Selldorf Architects and Studios Architecture Paris—to lead its "Nouvelle Renaissance" expansion, a project estimated to cost over €1 billion ($1.2 billion). The plan, first announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in early 2025, includes a new entrance to accommodate three million additional visitors annually and a dedicated 33,000-square-foot exhibition space for Leonardo da Vinci's *Mona Lisa*. The museum's new director, Christophe Leribault, is moving forward with the project despite significant budget uncertainty, with cost estimates ranging from €270 million to €1.1 billion.

Nina Hamnett – art’s unsung ‘Queen of Bohemia’

The article profiles Nina Hamnett, a painter and writer who was a central figure in bohemian circles in early 20th-century London and Paris. Known for her vibrant social life and associations with artists like Modigliani and Gaudier-Brzeska, Hamnett was celebrated as the 'Queen of Bohemia' in her time. The piece notes a renewed interest in her artwork, suggesting a reassessment of her legacy beyond her colorful biography.

Collector Christian Duerckheim: ‘I want a painting that nobody has seen before’

The article profiles German industrialist and art collector Christian Duerckheim, who has assembled a private collection focused on challenging, lesser-known contemporary works. A selection from his collection is currently on display at the Serralves Foundation in Porto, Portugal, highlighting his preference for paintings that are unfamiliar to the public.

From Van Gogh to Louise Bourgeois, 5 artists who pay tribute to their mother (sometimes in surprising ways)

De Van Gogh à Louise Bourgeois, 5 artistes qui rendent hommage à leur mère (parfois de façon surprenante)

Cinq artistes majeurs — James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Vincent van Gogh, Suzanne Valadon, Louise Bourgeois et Michel Journiac — sont présentés à travers des œuvres qui rendent hommage à leur mère. L'article détaille les portraits intimes réalisés par chacun, comme l'Arrangement en gris et noir n°1 de Whistler, le Portrait de la mère de l'artiste de Van Gogh, ou encore La mère de l'artiste de Valadon, en explorant les relations personnelles et les contextes historiques qui ont nourri ces créations.

Edgar Calel wins 2026 Sam Gilliam Award

Edgar Calel, a Maya Kaqchikel artist from Chi Xot, Guatemala, has been awarded the 2026 Sam Gilliam Award, as announced by the Dia Art Foundation and the Sam Gilliam Foundation. The prize includes $75,000 and a public programme at a Dia Foundation location this autumn. Calel’s multidisciplinary practice—spanning drawing, sculpture, installation, and performance—centers on ancestral knowledge, Indigenous experience, and the legacies of colonialism. He was selected by a jury of curators and foundation leaders, including Jessica Morgan, director of the Dia Art Foundation.

Here’s What Art to See in New York Before the Wave of Summer Group Shows Hits

The article surveys notable art exhibitions in New York ahead of the summer group show season, highlighting Meg Webster's "Thicket" at Paula Cooper Gallery, the "Whitney Biennial 2026" at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and Bruce Nauman's "No Mistakes" at Okey Dokey Konrad Fischer. Webster's Chelsea show features a large-scale olfactory sculpture of branches and grasses, while the Whitney Biennial presents 56 artists without a unifying theme, reflecting America's fractured state. Nauman's Tribeca exhibition showcases blind drawings and 3-D video documentation, offering an intimate look at perception and memory.

Paloma Elsesser, Joan Jonas, and Isha Ambani Descended Upon Beacon for a Day at Dia

On a warm spring Saturday, the Dia Art Foundation hosted its annual Spring Benefit at Dia Beacon, drawing a cross-disciplinary crowd of artists, curators, museum leaders, and fashion figures. The event celebrated the opening of seven major exhibitions across the Beacon campus, featuring works by John Chamberlain, Lee Ufan, Kishio Suga, and Jack Whitten, and marked the rollout of a new partnership with Chanel. Guests explored over 20 galleries, enjoyed a seasonal lunch amid Chamberlain's sculptures, and participated in a special children's program, all set within the former Nabisco box-printing factory along the Hudson River.

A Journey Through the Work of Lucía Pizzani on the Occasion of Her First Institutional Exhibition in London

UN RECORRIDO POR LA OBRA DE LUCÍA PIZZANI A PROPÓSITO DE SU PRIMERA MUESTRA INSTITUCIONAL EN LONDRES

Venezuelan artist Lucía Pizzani presents her first institutional exhibition in the United Kingdom, titled "Faunal Succession," at Focal Point Gallery in London, running through May 30. The show features new works created in collaboration with artists Cecilia Bonilla, Jaime Gili, and Javier Weyler, as well as community groups and local schools, reimagining the Essex coastline through the concept of deep time. The exhibition links geological transformation with contemporary issues such as climate change, migration, and social change, as explored in an interview with curator Inês Costa.

Through Sculpture, Kiah Celeste Finds Elegance in the Everyday

Kiah Celeste, a New York native who trained as a photographer at SUNY Purchase, abandoned photography after graduation and turned to sculpture, drawing inspiration from her experience as an art handler at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Her practice involves "foraging" for discarded materials—such as a marble tub, old CDs, acrylic skylight domes, and bowling balls—which she transforms into works like *Balance Bath* (2019), *Ouroboros* (2025), and the "Dream of Pearl" (2023) series. Celeste has shown in two-person exhibitions at Document Gallery in Chicago and Swivel Gallery in New York, and her sculptures explore tension between abstraction and recognizable objects, Minimalism and Pop, and her own intersecting identities as Black and Jewish, feminine and androgynous.

Pussy Riot Turns Its Venice Biennale Protest Into a Music Video

Pussy Riot has transformed its protest at the 61st Venice Biennale into a music video for the song "DISOBEY," the lead single from the group's debut album *CYKA* (Russian for "bitch"), set for release on June 12. The protest, which took place last month in front of the Russian pavilion, featured members chanting in pink balaclavas and setting off smoke bombs to denounce Russia's return to the exhibition. Co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova, who started Pussy Riot in 2011 as a faux punk band for political activism, produced the album after a durational performance at MOCA Los Angeles, collaborating with musical duo Gold Glove and featuring guests like B Real, Avenged Sevenfold, and Salem Ilese.

Untitled Art will launch four new prizes at Houston fair's second edition

Untitled Art Houston, returning for its second edition from October 2 to 4 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, has announced four new prizes for exhibitors and artists, bringing the total potential prize value to $113,200. New sponsors include the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ($20,000 acquisition prize), Public Art of the University of Houston System ($25,000 acquisition prize), Hotel Daphne ($30,000–$50,000 for up to three works), and the Houston Grand Opera ($7,500–$10,000 plus a commission and residency). Two residency prizes from the fair’s debut—PAC Art Residency and Casa Santa Ana Residency—will continue.

The Netherlands is confronting its history of Nazi occupation – but many stolen objects remain unreturned

Arthur Brand, a Dutch art detective, was contacted by a man who discovered that his family descended from Hendrik Seyffardt, a high-ranking Nazi collaborator, and that a painting looted from Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker remained in their possession. The painting, Toon Kelder's *Portrait of a Young Girl*, had hung in a relative's home near Utrecht for years. The family, who changed their name after WWII, handed the painting to Brand after the story broke in Dutch media, expressing shame and outrage over the silence surrounding their history.

David Hockney, the endlessly inventive British master of brilliant, bold colour and light

British artist David Hockney, known for his vibrant paintings of California swimming pools and Yorkshire landscapes, died on June 13, 2026, at age 88. His agent Erica Bolton confirmed he passed away peacefully at home in London, a month before his 89th birthday. Hockney's career spanned from his early days at the Royal College of Art to becoming a pop art icon, with works like 'A Bigger Splash' and the record-breaking sale of 'Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)' for $90.3 million in 2018.

Hans Hartung and music, the dialogue between painting and sound on display in Venice

The Fondazione Querini Stampalia in Venice is hosting the exhibition "The Invisible Chord. Hans Hartung and Music" until September 13, 2026. Curated by Thomas Schlesser and presented in collaboration with the Hartung-Bergman Foundation and Perrotin, the show features nearly eighty works, documents, and audiovisual materials exploring the profound relationship between the master of European abstraction and music. A collateral initiative of the 61st Venice Biennale, the exhibition highlights how music was a constant, obsessive presence in Hartung's life, influencing his abstract painting through rhythm, gesture, and energy rather than explicit musical imagery.

In the Galleries

Maia Chao's performance "Being Moved" took place on the 7th floor of the Whitney Museum of American Art as part of the Whitney Biennial. Audience members rode a crowded, noisy elevator to the gallery, where performers mimicked distracted museum visitors—sneezing, chatting, taking photos, and ignoring the art. Choreography by Lena Engelstein featured gestures like scratching, tying shoes, and picking wedgies, with standout physical comedy by dancer James Barrett. Chao also installed text scores on the Biennial floor, inviting viewers to interact with the museum space.

David Hockney 1937 – 2026: Where to see the British artist’s work in London

David Hockney, the celebrated British artist known for his vibrant swimming pool paintings and landscapes, has died at age 88. The article provides a guide to viewing his work in London, highlighting his final exhibition "A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting" at Serpentine North Gallery (on view until August 23, 2026), as well as his work at Tate Britain. It traces his career from his Yorkshire roots and Royal College of Art training through his transformative move to Los Angeles, his iconic pool paintings like "A Bigger Splash" and "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)", his later digital experiments on iPad, and his immersive Lightroom show.

British artist David Hockney

A collection of archival photographs and captions chronicles the career of British artist David Hockney, spanning from 2006 to 2026. The images show Hockney at various milestones: announcing an exhibition at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris (2026), designing a stained glass window for Westminster Abbey (2018), presenting his book "SUMO - A Bigger Book" at the Frankfurt Book Fair (2016), and attending numerous exhibition openings at institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts, Tate, Guggenheim Bilbao, and the National Portrait Gallery. Also featured are auction previews at Christie's and Bonhams, including his record-breaking painting "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" (2018) and earlier works like "Beverly Hills Housewife" (2009) and "A Bigger Splash" (1967).

11 art exhibits to check out this summer

This article highlights 11 art exhibitions opening across Greater Boston this summer, encouraging viewers to challenge their beliefs and reflect on collective memory. Featured shows include "Giorgio Griffa: Paths in the Forest" at the Clark Art Institute, the artist's first U.S. solo exhibition; "Where's Boston? 50 Years Later" at the Boston Athenaeum, revisiting Constantine Manos's 1974 photographic portrait of the city; "James Dye: The Void, the Wheel, and the Monster" at Fitchburg Art Museum; and "Stories on the Planet: Asagi Maeda" at Fuller Craft Museum, among others.

Sanford Biggers Mixes It Up

The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, New York, is presenting "Sanford Biggers: Drift," a solo exhibition showcasing the artist's multidisciplinary practice. The show features works such as "Unsui (Cloud Forest)" (2025), an illuminated cloud installation made from aluminum, acrylic, and LEDs, alongside his "Codex" series of antique quilts altered with spray paint and found objects. Biggers, who grew up in Los Angeles and was influenced by hip-hop and graffiti, draws on his time in Japan and Buddhist concepts like "unsui" (cloud water) to explore themes of drift, migration, and cultural mixing. The exhibition was co-curated by Corinne Erni, the museum's chief curator of art and education.