What Will Art Basel’s No-Preview-Allowed ‘Basel Exclusive’ Initiative Offer?

Art Basel has announced the list of artists participating in its new "Basel Exclusive" initiative at its flagship Swiss fair, which opens to VIPs on June 16. The program asks exhibitors in the main Galleries sector to hold back at least one standout work from digital previews, keeping them secret until the fair opens. Over 190 of the roughly 240 galleries opted in, featuring blue-chip names like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Bridget Riley, Lucio Fontana, and Joan Mitchell, alongside emerging artists such as Frieda Toranzo Jaeger and Maia Ruth Lee. The initiative aims to restore the excitement of in-person discovery, countering the rise of digital transactions that became common during the pandemic.

Jack White review – former White Stripe’s art is like a 12-year-old visiting Tate Modern for the first time

Rock musician Jack White, formerly of the White Stripes, has mounted an exhibition of his visual art at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery in London. The show features customised amplifiers by Ai Weiwei and Hirst, furniture inspired by Mondrian, and works referencing American folk music, including a series based on a statuette called Ukulele Joe. The review is scathing, describing White's art as derivative, glib, and at the intellectual level of a 12-year-old visiting Tate Modern for the first time.

Phoenix Art Museum gifted 185 works of Native American art

The Phoenix Art Museum has received a gift of 185 works of modern and contemporary Native American art from collector William P. Healey, the largest such donation in the museum's history. Assembled over the past decade with guidance from Diné artist Tony Abeyta, the collection will anchor a new exhibition titled "The Way We Came: A Century of Indigenous Art," opening August 26 and co-curated by Abeyta and JoAnna Reyes. Featured artists include Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Fritz Scholder, Allan Houser, T. C. Cannon, Kay WalkingStick, and Emmi Whitehorse, though only one artist, Michael Chiago, represents local Phoenix-area Tribes, and the Akimel O'odham, on whose ancestral lands the museum sits, have no representation.

Celia Paul Transcends Her Own Mythology

Celia Paul's exhibition "Innervisions" at Gladstone Gallery showcases her latest paintings, including works like "Cruciform Muse" (2025) and "Burning Painter" (2025). The show features her characteristic autobiographical approach, depicting family members, self-portraits, and ocean scenes, while also exploring themes of vulnerability and power through nude figures inspired by Gwen John. The exhibition builds on Paul's established reputation as a painter and memoirist, following her book "Letters to Gwen John" (2022) and a documentary by Jake Auerbach.

Art Basel Reveals More Participating Galleries and the Artists Selected for its ‘Exclusive’ Initiative, Which Withholds Artworks from Email Previews

Art Basel has announced that 193 of its 232 main-sector exhibitors (83%) have signed on to a new initiative called Basel Exclusive, which requires participating galleries to withhold at least one artwork—or their entire presentation—from emailed PDF previews sent to collectors and advisors before the fair opens. The initiative debuts at the upcoming Art Basel in Basel (June 18–21, with VIP previews June 16–17) and includes major galleries such as Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner, and Pace, as well as smaller venues like Bortolami and James Cohan. About 230 artists are covered, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, David Hockney, and Andy Warhol. Participating galleries will be marked on floor plans, and selected works will be highlighted by plaques.

Lucian Freud Painting He Spent Decades Denying Will Go on Public View for the First Time

A portrait long denied by Lucian Freud, titled *Man in a Black Scarf*, will go on public display for the first time this summer at London’s Garden Museum. Painted in 1939 while Freud studied at the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing, the work depicts John Jameson, heir to the Jameson whiskey family. Freud disavowed the painting in 1985 after Christie’s initially cataloged it as his, and he continued to deny it until his death in 2011. New evidence, including student records found in the Tate Britain archives, confirms Freud was working on a portrait of Jameson in 1939, matching the painting’s date and subject.

Sotheby’s Offers Art and Design From Estate of Revered Dealer Barbara Gladstone, Led by Richard Prince and a Jean Prouvé Sideboard

Sotheby's will auction 140 lots of art and design from the estate of revered dealer Barbara Gladstone, who died in 2024 at age 89. The sale, scheduled for June 9 during New York design week, includes contemporary works by Richard Prince, Alex Katz, Kai Althoff, and Yayoi Kusama, alongside midcentury modern design pieces by Jean Prouvé, Pierre Jeanneret, and Joaquim Tenreiro. The collection is estimated to bring between $6.9 and $10 million, with a public preview opening June 2 at Sotheby's Madison Avenue headquarters. A prior sale of contemporary artworks from Gladstone's collection in May achieved $18.5 million, exceeding its high estimate.

Celia Paul Makes Her Own Way

This week's Hyperallergic newsletter highlights artists forging their own paths. Celia Paul, known as a painter-chronicler and former muse to Lucian Freud, has her first New York exhibition in over a decade at Gladstone Gallery in Chelsea, featuring stark, desaturated portraits. Separately, the late Frank Stella's personal collection of 19th-to-20th-century Navajo weavings is on public display for the first time at Arader Galleries on the Upper East Side, ahead of a sale. The issue also covers the What Now: 2026 festival in Philadelphia, Greenpoint Open Studios in Brooklyn, a new mosaic at Brooklyn's Borough Hall subway station, and local backlash over new signage in Kingston, New York.

"Ohne die Künstler sind wir als Galeristen alle nichts"

A recent art news roundup from Monopol covers several stories: a debate in 'Frieze' criticizes contemporary art for ignoring digital misogyny and the 'manosphere'; the AfD's cultural policy in German states promotes a 'patriotic turn' and rejects modern art like Bauhaus; a possible lead in the Louvre jewel heist points to Belgium, with photos of the Galerie d'Apollon found on suspects' phones; and Marion Ackermann discusses cultural polarization and defending artistic freedom.

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.

The New Crystal Bridges Tells a More Honest Story About American Art

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, is opening a 114,000-square-foot expansion designed by Moshe Safdie on June 6, increasing exhibition space by 50%. The addition features a new David Booth Gallery dedicated to contemporary American art, a creative learning center called the Hub, and a prominent installation of Jeffrey Gibson's beaded sculpture "The Enforcer" (2025), originally shown at the 2024 Venice Biennale. The museum's predominantly female curatorial team, including Indigenous art curator Jordan Poorman Cocker, has intentionally centered diverse voices—showcasing works by Native American, Black, Latinx, and Asian American artists alongside canonical figures like Donald Judd and Yayoi Kusama.

Interview with Reynaldo Rivera

Colorado passes law giving artists new legal and fiscal tools

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 133 (SB26-133) into law on June 2, creating a new type of limited liability company called an Artist Company. The bill, authored by state senator Jeff Bridges and inspired by Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler's TED Talk, provides artists with a legal structure that treats their work as capital contributions rather than generic assets, allowing for financial leverage such as loans. It requires 51% artistic ownership and ensures that upon dissolution, rights to artistic work revert to the artist.

June Book Bag: from the street art of JR to a behind-the-scenes look at the Venice Biennale

The article reviews four new art books published in June. It covers a Taschen monograph on French street artist JR, featuring his large-scale refugee portraits and his upcoming wrapping of the Pont Neuf in Paris; an oral history of the Venice Biennale edited by Massimiliano Gioni with interviews with 16 curators spanning 1993 to 2026; an investigative book by Matthew Campbell about antiquities smuggler Douglas Latchford and the illicit Southeast Asian artefact trade; and a volume of conversations with Turkish curator Vasif Kortun about his career and the Istanbul art scene.

John Constable, an artist and man for all seasons, shines brightly in new book

A new book titled *Constable's Year* offers a fresh perspective on John Constable, blending art history, biography, and nature writing to explore how the changing seasons and agricultural cycles of Suffolk shaped his life and work. Author Owens visited the exact sites Constable painted during the corresponding seasons and structured her book's four chapters around spring, summer, autumn, and winter, covering the artist's full lifespan from 1776 to 1837. The book also draws heavily on Constable's correspondence, revealing his deep emotional connection to nature.

Mystery, controversy and the butterfly’s sting: James McNeill Whistler book aims to dispel the fog around his legacy

A new book, *Whistler's Legacy*, by historian Daniel Sutherland aims to correct the myths and misconceptions surrounding the enigmatic artist James McNeill Whistler. Sutherland critiques early biographers Joseph and Elizabeth Pennell for factual errors and doctored accounts, and reexamines Whistler's paradoxical life—an American expatriate, a self-styled provocateur, and a meticulous painter of nocturnes and pastels. The book also addresses Whistler's controversial relationships, including his legal battle with critic John Ruskin over *Nocturne in Black and Gold–The Falling Rocket*.

Mapplethorpe nudes, the NEA and the birth of America’s culture wars

Isaac Butler's new book, *The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America’s Culture Wars*, examines the 1989 controversy over Robert Mapplethorpe's retrospective at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC. The exhibition, funded in part by a $30,000 NEA grant, was canceled after conservative backlash, then hosted by the Washington Project for the Arts. Butler, whose mother served on the WPA board, also covers related battles over Andres Serrano's *Immersion (Piss Christ)*, music warning labels, and the "NEA Four" performance artists whose grants were denied. The book was inspired by the 2020 decision to delay a Philip Guston retrospective over concerns about his Klan imagery, which Butler sees as a liberal act of self-censorship.

An expert's guide to Marina Abramović: five must-read books on the performance artist

Marina Abramović, the pioneering Serbian performance artist who turns 80 this year, is the subject of a new reading list curated by Shai Baitel, the curator of her current exhibition "Transforming Energy" at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice. Baitel recommends five essential books on Abramović, including her memoir "Walk Through Walls" (2016), "Marina Abramović: A Visual Biography" (2023) by Katya Tylevich, "When Marina Abramović Dies" (2010) by James Westcott, the quote collection "Abramović-isms" (2024) edited by Larry Warsh, and the catalogue for her 2023 Royal Academy of Arts solo show. The article also notes her concurrent exhibition "Seven Deaths" at Cisternerne in Copenhagen.

‘An endless silent scream feeling’: artist Roni Horn on horror, hope and landing in a lake in Iceland

Artist Roni Horn, 70, recounts being removed from a US-to-Germany flight after a dispute with a steward over her seat position, an incident she shares not for sympathy but to illustrate her experience as an androgynous person in Trump's America. She then traveled to London for her first solo exhibition in a decade, "Seizure of Hope" at Hauser & Wirth, featuring 80 graphite-and-wax-pencil drawings repeating the phrase "I am paralysed with hope," alongside a cast glass sculpture. The drawings, which Horn rearranges intuitively, explore themes of hope, horror, and repetition, inspired by comedian Maria Bamford's routine and the political climate.

What is the 2026 edition of the Nouveau Printemps de Toulouse, inspired by Rossy de Palma, worth?

Que vaut l’édition 2026 du Nouveau Printemps de Toulouse inspiré par Rossy de Palma ?

The 2026 edition of the Nouveau Printemps festival in Toulouse features actress Rossy de Palma as its "associated artist," a role previously held by designer Matali Crasset, filmmaker Alain Guiraudie, and musician Kiddy Smile. Unlike her predecessors, de Palma declined all interviews and did not accompany journalists, instead appearing only occasionally as a whimsical presence. The festival's artistic director Clément Postec curated several exhibitions, while de Palma selected works by Spanish and Hispanic artists—including Miquel Barceló, Joan Miró, and Manolo Millares—from the collections of the Musée des Abattoirs. A separate outdoor exhibition by photographer Manuel Outumuro features de Palma's portrait alongside those of Juliette Binoche and Monica Bellucci. All exhibitions are free except the one at the Abattoirs, and many are held in everyday public spaces like community centers and gardens.

Open letter denounces Centre Pompidou and Hanwha group partnership

A collective of artists and thinkers published an open letter on May 27, accompanied by an op-ed in the French newspaper Libération, calling for the termination of the partnership between the Centre Pompidou and the Hanwha group. The Centre Pompidou Hanwha is set to open later this week in Seoul. The letter denounces Hanwha's involvement in the arms industry linked to the Palestinian genocide and criticizes the partnership as an "art-washing" operation masking profits from armed conflicts. Over 100 art professionals, writers, and thinkers have signed, including Ruanne Abou-Rahme, Ali Cherri, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, and Ariella Aïsha Azoulay.

French Artists Denounce Centre Pompidou and Hanwha Partnership in Open Letter

More than 100 prominent French artists have signed an open letter demanding the termination of the partnership between the Centre Pompidou and South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group, which was set to open the new “Centre Pompidou Hanwha” museum in Seoul. The protest stems from Hanwha Group’s ties to the Israel Defense Forces through its affiliate Hanwha Systems, which signed deals with Israeli defense firms Elbit Systems and Elta Systems. The artists accuse the partnership of being an “art-washing” operation that masks profits from armed conflicts linked to the Palestinian genocide, and they criticize the commodification of culture through corporate alliances.

Does Artist Emmi Whitehorse Have the Best-Curated Studio Fridge in the Game?

Emmi Whitehorse, a Navajo artist and co-founder of the Indigenous art collective the Grey Canyon Group, is featured in a studio visit interview by Cultured. She discusses her large-scale abstract paintings rooted in the Navajo concept of Hózhó, her creative process, and her upcoming diptych 'Reseeding Chaco (2026)' unveiled on June 4 at the Parrish Art Museum as part of its FRESH PAINT exhibition series. The article includes her answers to questions about her studio playlist, fridge contents, tools, mishaps, and advice from other artists.

Crystal Bridges unveils major expansion, new galleries

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, will open a major expansion on June 6-7, adding 114,000 square feet of gallery, education, and community space. Designed by Safdie Architects, the expansion includes two new art galleries, a creative learning center called the Hub with studios and classrooms, and a bridge featuring sculpture, pottery, and a café. The first exhibition in the new temporary gallery is "Keith Haring in 3D," and a new Contemporary American Art Gallery will showcase works by Yayoi Kusama and Teresita Fernández. The museum has also reimagined its existing galleries, placing greater emphasis on Indigenous art and featuring nearly 200 works displayed for the first time.

Oscar Tuazon Resurrects a Lost Scott Burton Work for New York’s AIDS Memorial

Oscar Tuazon has created "Eternal Flame for Scott Burton," a functional sculpture for New York City's AIDS Memorial at St. Vincent's Triangle, set to be unveiled on June 20. The work reimagines elements from a 1994 public commission by the late sculptor Scott Burton for the Sheepshead Bay Fishing Piers in Brooklyn, which had decayed and was decommissioned after Hurricane Sandy. Tuazon used salvaged materials from Burton's original installation, including perforated steel benches and lamps, to build a circular metal bench topped with a light-emitting pole. The project was supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and several foundations, and was facilitated by the city's Parks Department and the gallery Olney Gleason.

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.

Antony Gormley Two Exhibitions Two Countries – Miranda Carroll

British sculptor Antony Gormley has opened two concurrent exhibitions in two countries: "Geestgrond" at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) in Belgium, curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, and "What Holds Us" at Galleria Continua in San Gimignano, Italy. The Antwerp show features works including the steel behemoth "Cave" (2019), the aluminum installation "Orbit Field III" (2026), and the new "Brancher" piece "Attend" (2025), alongside early experimental works and pieces from the museum's permanent collection. In San Gimignano, Gormley has created "Innercity" (2026), a cardboard labyrinth of body-shaped forms that will gradually disintegrate as visitors interact with it.

London Gallery Weekend Charts the Evolving Coordinates of the British Art Scene

London Gallery Weekend returns for its sixth edition from June 5-7, 2026, with over 120 participating galleries, including nine first-timers and several with new or expanded spaces. The citywide event features more than 80 free public events such as talks, workshops, book signings, and parties, and is structured geographically to guide visitors through central, south, and east London on successive days. Co-directors Sarah Rustin of Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery and Jeremy Epstein of Edel Assanti emphasize that the weekend aims to unify the city's distributed gallery scene, attract international collectors en route to Venice or Basel, and encourage local audiences to explore beyond their usual routes.

Crystal Bridges opens 114,000-square-foot expansion this weekend

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, opens a 114,000-square-foot expansion to the public on June 6-7, designed by Safdie Architects. The project adds two new galleries—a temporary exhibition space launching with “Keith Haring in 3D” and a Contemporary American Art Gallery featuring works by Yayoi Kusama and Teresita Fernández—plus a creative learning hub, artist-in-residence studios, a ceramics studio, and a bridge café. The expansion completes a figure-eight circulation pattern across two ponds and introduces a new north entrance, with architectural elements like exposed southern yellow pine beams and copper cladding.

Skarlet Smatana | HENI News Profile

Skarlet Smatana, the director of the George Economou Collection, is highlighted for her pivotal role in steering the private collection's public-facing initiatives and curatorial direction. Her leadership is exemplified by the launch of 'The Way We Live Now' in May 2026, the collection's first contemporary group exhibition sourced entirely from its own holdings. This landmark show explores the intersection of finance, politics, and intimacy, marking a significant moment in the collection's history of engaging with modern artistic consciousness.