The Venice Biennale, the world's largest contemporary art exhibition, opened to the press amid turmoil over Russia's return for the first time since the Ukraine war began. The event features artists from several conflict-affected nations, including Ukraine, Israel, and the US, while Iran has canceled its participation. Resignations, boycotts, and threats to cut funding have marked the lead-up to the opening.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) has reopened after undergoing major upgrades. The glass facade, once a quiet mirror to Woodward Avenue, now actively draws visitors inside, marking a new chapter for the institution.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Long Island is hosting its occasional series “Art from the Hive” through May 10 at its Terry Street gallery. The inaugural exhibition, titled “Occupying…”, features work by Brooklyn artists who discuss their creative inspirations and muses.
Oklahoma City University (OCU) is hosting an art exhibition that incorporates 'digital debris'—discarded or obsolete digital materials—into its works. The show features pieces created by artists who repurpose e-waste, old screens, and other technological remnants to explore themes of consumption, memory, and the environmental impact of digital culture.
An exhibition featuring artwork by Brethren students is currently on display at the WSCC (West Shore Community College) exhibit. The show highlights creative works produced by students as part of their academic curriculum, offering a public showcase of their artistic development and talent.
The Taylor County Arts Council has announced the winners of its 28th Annual Thea Porter Memorial Day Juried Art Exhibit, now on display at Gallery 62 West in Grafton, West Virginia, through June 2. Top honors in the adult division went to Kristen Colebank for her watercolor "First Light," with Charlie Cowger and others also receiving awards; in the youth division, Katherine DeMos took first place for "Rad Grandad." The exhibit features diverse mediums including drawings, paintings, and sculptures, with a People's Choice Award still open for public voting until the closing reception on May 30.
The Watauga Arts Council (WAC) has opened a new exhibition titled "The Art of Jazz" in its main gallery in Boone, North Carolina, running through June 30. The show features works by local and regional artists who interpret jazz music's energy, improvisation, and cultural roots through 2D mediums, translating sound into color, movement, and form. A special reception will be held at the Appalachian Theatre on June 11, where pieces will be transported for the event, offering a cash bar and opportunities to meet the artists. The exhibition coincides with the 5th annual High Country Jazz Festival, providing a visual counterpart to the music events in downtown Boone.
More than 100 works of art by Seabreeze High School students are on display at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum (OMAM) in Ormond Beach, Florida, for the annual 'Tradewinds' juried exhibit, running through May 24. The show features 2D and 3D art, including ceramics, jewelry, and mosaics, and is judged by OMAM's Guest Curator Ruth Grim, who holds a Master of Arts from the New York University Institute of Fine Arts.
BIG ARTS on Sanibel Island is hosting two exhibitions: "Art as Therapy" in the Dunham Family Gallery through June 8, and the "Annual Artists Collective" in the Mezzanine Gallery through May 31. "Art as Therapy" is a collaboration between Hope Healthcare’s Art Therapy Program and Lee Health’s Arts in Healthcare Program, showcasing works that explore personal journeys through grief, illness, and recovery. The "Annual Artists Collective" features work from the artist-instructors who lead BIG ARTS workshops and classes, highlighting their diverse mediums and creative skills.
The article explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in the art market, examining whether AI tools can effectively assist with tasks such as authentication, valuation, and trend prediction. It discusses the potential benefits of AI in streamlining operations and reducing human bias, while also acknowledging skepticism from traditionalists who question AI's ability to understand artistic nuance and cultural context.
Florida CraftArt in downtown St. Petersburg has opened 'Florida NOW,' a new exhibition showcasing contemporary craft from across the state. Curated by artist and ceramics educator Holly Hanessian, the show features works in sculptural ceramics, glass, fiber, metal, and wood that blend traditional techniques with current perspectives. The opening reception is scheduled for May 9, and the exhibition runs through June 13.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has announced its first-ever cinema exhibition, titled *Star Wars in Motion*, which will debut as part of the museum's opening lineup on September 22, 2026. The exhibition focuses on vehicles from the first six *Star Wars* films, including Luke Skywalker's landspeeder and General Grievous' wheel bike, highlighting how motion and transport are depicted in the saga. It is one of over 30 installations curated by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson from the museum's founding collection, featuring more than 1,200 objects across 100,000 square feet.
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) is hosting Gallery Night, a free community-wide event on May 8 from 5-9 p.m., featuring over 70 venues across the greater Madison area. The event includes exhibitions, performances, artist talks, live music, and art-making demonstrations, with an afterparty at the museum's rooftop lounge from 5-10 p.m. Gallery Night has been a Madison tradition since 1988, launched by a group of volunteers.
Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) held its 40th Annual Regional Exhibition of High School Art in the East Wing Gallery, featuring works from students at eight area high schools. The exhibition displayed ceramics, paintings, drawings, and mixed media, with 10 students receiving cash awards for outstanding artistic achievement. The college also highlighted its expanding art program, driven by free community college initiatives, and its community outreach through the Summer Art Program for Youth and free public exhibitions.
The small community of Eureka, New South Wales, is hosting a local art exhibition titled 'Eureka: Where We Gather' from May 8 to May 10, 2025, to raise funds for the maintenance of its 120-year-old Eureka Hall. Organized by Michelle Braiuka, the exhibition features paintings, photography, and sculptures by Northern Rivers artists, with an opening night on Friday (tickets $30) and free public entry on Saturday and Sunday, including a Mother's Day Devonshire Tea.
The Ouachita Parish School District is hosting a talented art exhibition at the Student Support Services Building in West Monroe, Louisiana, featuring 270 pieces across 33 categories by middle and high school students. The show includes one winner per category, with the high school division's overall winner being a self-portrait titled "Spilling the Tea" by a graduating senior. The exhibition is open through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Aurora Public Art has opened a new exhibition titled "Re-Imagined: The Art of Sustainability" at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center in downtown Aurora, running through May 23. The show features works from adult artists like Jennifer Joiner, who creates art from trash collected on Lake Michigan beaches, and Ann Marie Greenberg, who repurposes household plastics and metal. It also includes submissions from students at East Aurora School District's Early Childhood Center, who used milk cartons, cereal boxes, and other recyclables. Curator Sangeeta Pande organized the open call, which drew 15 adult artists and numerous young participants, all exploring themes of environmental stewardship and creative reuse.
The Bellamy Mansion Museum in Wilmington, North Carolina, has opened a new exhibition titled “A Year of Fiber Art,” featuring 40 quilts created by members of the Quilters by the Sea Guild. The quilts were developed through three quilting challenges and include patriotic, whimsical, and abstract designs. The exhibition runs from April 30 to July 26, with free daily admission and an artist reception scheduled for May 22.
On May 1, an intergenerational art exhibition opened at Quest Art School and Gallery in Ontario, Canada, featuring works by female students and older women exploring resilience, healing, and community. Organized by Colibri - Francophone Women's Centre of Simcoe County in partnership with Quest and École secondaire Le Caron, the bilingual exhibit runs through the first week of May in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Themes include identity, belonging, self-expression, and feminist history, with textile art highlighting women's historical exclusion from the art world and their use of crafts for empowerment.
An exhibition titled 'Our History Living in Stitches' has opened at the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, dedicated to the Goycha and Garagoyunlu regions of Western Azerbaijan. The show features carpets woven by Azerbaijani women from those areas, preserved as treasured belongings during deportations between 1987 and 1991 and brought to Azerbaijan. The opening ceremony included speeches by museum director Shirin Malikova, community leaders, and a member of parliament, alongside musical performances by the 'Khazri' dance ensemble.
The Martin Artisans Guild is hosting its 'Tropical Temptations' exhibition at the Palm Room Gallery in Stuart, Florida, with an opening reception on May 6, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The event features new artwork from guild artists, a cash bar with appetizers, and an artisan boutique selling handmade jewelry, clothing, and home decor. A 'Meet the Artists' event is scheduled for June 3, and the exhibition runs through June 27, 2026.
Bangkok's Give.Me.Museums presents 'Art Anything Else?', a major exhibition by the artist KOMM after a four-year hiatus. The show transforms the museum into an interactive playground with over nine zones, including massive sculptures, an immersive room, a tactile flower playground, and a collaboration with Choco Project where desserts are served on painter's palettes. Visitors can also purchase exclusive merchandise such as Fujifilm cameras and frame magnets. The exhibition runs until May 30, with tickets priced at 200 Baht.
An art exhibition titled “When the Guns Fall Silent” opened in Idlib, Syria, at the National Museum hall, organized by the Syrian Artists Union. The four-day show features around 70 works by both professional and emerging artists from across Syria, with the first two days dedicated to established painters and the final two to emerging talent. Participants include Mai Halawani from Homs and Doaa Abboud from Tartous, who see the event as a rare chance to reconnect with the artistic community after years of isolation.
A new community-led exhibition called Wild Art Exhibition 2026 will take place at Railworld Wildlife Haven in Peterborough from May 24 to 31. Organized by Community Clickers, Peterborough Together Project, and Peterborough Embroidery Society in collaboration with the venue, the show features work from local amateur artists, photographers, and makers, all inspired by the theme of nature and wildlife. The exhibition will open with a car show on May 24, presented with support from Abandoned City Camo Crew, blending art and automotive culture.
The article promotes a "Meet the Artist Opening Reception" hosted by the Ogunquit Maine Art Collective Gallery, listed as a local event in the Seacoast online events calendar. It invites readers to attend the reception in Ogunquit, Maine, as part of the area's weekend festivals and free attractions for families.
Barnard College's visual arts senior thesis exhibition showcases a diverse range of works from graduating students, spanning avant-garde conceptual pieces to explorations of soft domesticity. The show features paintings, sculptures, installations, and mixed-media works that reflect the students' individual artistic journeys and technical experimentation.
A call for artists has been issued for a commemorative exhibition celebrating Laredo's 271st anniversary. The Mexican Cultural Institute in Laredo, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico, the Webb County Heritage Foundation, and the city of Laredo, invites local and regional artists to submit original artwork reflecting the city's identity. Submissions will be accepted May 4-8 at the Consulate General of Mexico, with selected works displayed May 15 through June 5 at the Mexican Cultural Institute. The exhibit will focus on five themes: history, culture, people, landscapes, and heritage.
A new exhibition titled 'Wild Art' will open in Peterborough this May, celebrating nature and showcasing local creative talent. The event aims to highlight the connection between art and the natural environment through works by regional artists.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has opened an exhibition titled "Return of Kherson’s Memory. Stolen Art Preserved in Museum Artprints," featuring 30 high-quality reproductions of masterpieces stolen by Russian forces from the Kherson Regional Art Museum named after Oleksii Shovkunenko in autumn 2022. The stolen works include pieces by artists Mykola Pymonenko, Ivan Aivazovsky, and Viktor Zaretsky, among over 10,000 items illegally removed from the museum just before Kherson’s de-occupation. The exhibition was organized by the museum team and the art platform Vivid Fusion.
Dovecote Street Arts in Amble, Northumberland, is launching a new exhibition featuring nearly 70 artworks by 47 local artists selected through an open call. Titled 'Amble, Northumberland, England', the show explores how national themes manifest in local communities, with works from artists including sculptor-painter duo Geoffrey and Sarah Bradford and award-winning painter Katherine Rousselange. The exhibition is supported by a £400 grant from the Alnmouth Arts Festival and opens to the public on May 23, 2026, coinciding with the Amble Puffin Festival, running until June 7.