FKA Twigs and Brian Eno Among Artists Included in the Vatican's Sound-Based 2026 Venice Biennale Pavilion
The Vatican’s Holy See pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale will showcase 24 artists, including Brian Eno, FKA Twigs, Patti Smith and poet‑musician Precious Okoyomon. Titled “The Ear is the Eye of the Soul,” the exhibition interprets the life of Saint Hildegard of Bingen through sound‑based installations across two historic sites. Co‑organized by the Serpentine Gallery’s Hans Ulrich Obrist and curator Ben Vickers, the project blends contemporary music, poetry and visual art into a “sonic prayer.” The Vatican’s participation underscores its ongoing effort to modernize its cultural image.
Studio Visit: ROMAN LIPSKI
Roman Lipski, a Berlin‑based painter, pivoted from two decades of figurative work to AI‑augmented creation after a creative crisis in 2014. Partnering with data scientist Florian Dohmann, he built the AI Muse, a tool that recombines his own visual language...
Canada's National Orchestra to Honour Indigenous Music During Nova Scotia Shows
Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra is marking its 100th tour with a series of Nova Scotia concerts that spotlight Indigenous music. Mi’kmaq singer‑songwriter Emma Stevens, who first volunteered with the orchestra in Eskasoni as a teen, will perform her viral...
Desperate, Scared, But Social at UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art
The Orange County Museum of Art’s 2025 California Biennial, titled *Desperate, Scared, But Social*, draws its name from Emily’s Sassy Lime’s debut album and uses teenage anxiety and social connection as its core theme. Curated by Courtenay Finn, Christopher Y....
A Photographer’s Take on Horology and the Nature of Time
Photographer Terry Ratzlaff’s new photobook The Marches documents the two‑year visual study of Greg Arp’s clock‑repair shop in Bennet, Nebraska, before the horologist’s sudden death in 2023. The book weaves more than 1,500 black‑and‑white abstract still‑lifes of clocks, cogs and...
Rirkrit Tiravanija to Assemble “A Gathering of Remarkable People” For Qatar Pavilion at Venice Biennale
The National Pavilion of Qatar will present “Untitled (a gathering of remarkable people)” at the 61st Venice Biennale, opening May 9, 2026. Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija curates the show, assembling musicians, poets, chefs and visual artists from across the Arab world. Co‑curated...
As Cuban Crisis Deepens, Diaspora Artists Have a Message of Compassion
The Piero Atchugarry Gallery’s exhibition *Exile* uses a salvaged, bullet‑scarred raft to embody the trauma of Cuban migrants risking a 93‑mile crossing to the U.S. Artists Antonia Wright and Ruben Millares combine sculpture, cyanotypes and silkscreen prints to shift viewers...
New Bienal De Yucatán to Spotlight Mexican Region’s Growing Art Scene
Mérida, Yucatán’s capital, will host the inaugural Bienal de Yucatán from 26 November 2026 to 28 February 2027. French‑born patron Catherine Petitgas, who runs Proyecto Y, is the driving force behind the event, while Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas serves as artistic director. The biennial follows a...
Which City Will Be the Next Asian Art Hub? That’s the Wrong Question
The article argues that the question of the next Asian art hub should shift from city‑to‑city competition to a focus on emerging ecosystems in Bangkok and Hanoi. Both cities are moving beyond peripheral status, driven by private museums like Dib...
A Spanish Palace Revisits Jackie Kennedy’s Bond With the Duchess of Alba
The Palacio de las Dueñas in Seville is hosting “Cayetana: Grande de España,” an exhibition that runs through August 31 to mark the 100th birthday of the 18th Duchess of Alba. Curated by the duchess’s daughter and historian Cristina Carrillo de...
Lost-Lost Film by French Cinema Pioneer Turns Up in Michigan
A century‑old reel of Georges Méliès’s 1897 short "Gugusse and the Automaton" was uncovered in a Grand Rapids garage and donated to the Library of Congress, where technicians confirmed it as the first known moving image of a robot. The...
Duchamp’s Common Sense
The Museum of Modern Art opened a sweeping Marcel Duchamp retrospective that traces the artist’s evolution from early post‑Impressionist canvases to his later readymade‑centric works. The show is anchored by Molly Nesbit’s 1994 Artforum essay, which mines Duchamp’s letters to illustrate his...
Sharjah’s Barjeel Art Foundation Is Building Its First Museum
The Barjeel Art Foundation broke ground on its first dedicated museum in Sharjah, a 38,750‑square‑foot facility slated to open in January 2028. Designed by Abdelmoneam Essa of Architecture Corner Consultants, the building draws on Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi’s sketches of the Al Rigga neighbourhood. The...
A Data Analysis of the 2026 Venice Biennale Signals a Shift to the Present
The 2026 Venice Biennale, curated posthumously for Koyo Kouoh’s "In Minor Keys," showcases 111 artists, with over 90% still living, marking a pivot toward contemporary, mid‑career creators. The lineup balances Western and Global South births roughly 50/50, doubles African‑born representation to...
Someone Will Win This Picasso For €100
A French charity raffle is offering a chance to win Pablo Picasso’s 1941 gouache "Tête de Femme" for a €100 (~$108) ticket. Ticket sales are capped at 120,000, which could generate €12 million (~$13 million) in revenue. €1 million (~$1.08 million) will be paid...
Jeremy Frey: The Generational Impact of a New Artistic Path
Jeremy Frey, a Passamaquoddy weaver from Maine, received a 2025 MacArthur Fellowship for his groundbreaking fusion of traditional Wabanaki basketry with contemporary art. He harvests his own sweetgrass and black ash, inventing flat‑weave techniques that can be run through a...
Sotheby’s Tries Again to Sell $40 M. Picasso Painting That Didn’t Make It to Auction in 2008
Sotheby’s will auction Pablo Picasso’s 1909 Cubist work *Arlequin (Buste)* in New York on May 19, estimating it around $40 million. The painting, bought for roughly $12,000 in the 1940s, has surged in value and now carries a seller’s guarantee and an irrevocable...
Biennale Jogja 18 Review: Occasional Moments of Brilliance
The 18th Biennale Jogja, titled *KAWRUH: Land of Rooted Practice*, unfolds in two phases—a village‑based immersion in Boro Hamlet followed by a conventional city program across 11 venues. Curated around the Javanese concept of *kawruh*—deep, lived knowledge—the show aims to...
New York’s Newest Triennial Lines Up 39 Artists for Star-Studded First Edition Along the Erie Canal
The Medina Triennial, a new three‑yearly art exhibition in the Western New York village of Medina, opens on June 6 near the Erie Canal with a roster of 39 artists from around the globe. Curated by co‑directors Kari Conte and Karin...
Cao Fei’s New Show Looks at Labour in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Chinese contemporary artist Cao Fei has opened "Dash" at Milan’s Fondazione Prada, a multi‑media exhibition that probes how artificial intelligence reshapes labor. The show pairs a new film with a virtual‑reality game, immersive installations, and an extensive archive to illustrate...
The Personal Collection of ‘Last Surrealist’ Enrico Donati Heads to Auction
Sotheby’s will auction "A Night in May," a 45‑lot collection of works gathered by Surrealist Enrico Donati and his wife Adele. The highlight is Picasso’s 1909 cubist portrait "Arlequin (Buste)" estimated at $40 million, part of a trio of blue‑chip pieces...
Gagosian to Open New Upper East Side Gallery with a Duchamp Show, a Rarity in a Commercial Setting
Gagosian is reopening on Manhattan’s Upper East Side at 980 Madison Avenue after being displaced by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The new space launches on April 25 with a solo Marcel Duchamp exhibition, featuring rare replicas such as the only non‑museum version of...
Thailand Biennale 2025 Review: Beyond the Tropical Paradise
The fourth Thailand Biennale, titled Eternal Kalpa, opened across 19 venues in Phuket, aiming to disrupt the island’s leisure‑driven image with slow‑time, environmentally‑focused art. Installations such as Ryuichi Sakamoto’s tsunami‑scarred piano and speculative bamboo shelters for the Urak Lawoi community...
‘He Was Genius About Sex’
A new dual biography, "The Wonderful World That Was," arrives in April 2026, chronicling photographer Peter Hujar and sculptor Paul Thek and arguing they could have defined a generation if not for AIDS. The book coincides with a wave of...
An Unflinching Photo Book About Young Motherhood, Addiction and Care
Abdulhamid Kircher’s new photo book *New Genesis* centers on his friend Sierra Kiss, a young mother navigating homelessness, addiction, and domestic abuse. The work combines intimate portraiture with candid scenes of daily struggle, positioning the images as a love letter...
Young Nigerian Artists Imbibe Foreign Influences in Lagos Show
Eight emerging Nigerian artists, ages 19 to 26, presented a group show at Angels and Muse in Lagos from March 21‑28, 2026. Their work juxtaposes Western pop culture—anime, Cartoon Network, Grace Jones—with distinctly Nigerian subjects and aesthetics. Curated by Awele...
Thomas Lélu Lends His Wit (Again!) To W Hotels
W Hotels has teamed with French text‑artist Thomas Lélu to launch a limited‑edition line of bucket hats, canvas tote bags and notecards emblazoned with his signature handwritten quips. The collection, unveiled alongside the brand’s recent property rollouts in Union Square,...
Inside Public Art Fund’s Annual Silent Auction, Dinner, and After Party
Public Art Fund staged its largest annual gathering, a silent auction, multi‑course dinner and after‑party, showcasing immersive activations by Genesis Belager, Juan Veloz and Kambui Olujimi. The auction highlighted works by celebrated contemporary artist Hank Willis Thomas, while Canard provided...
Strong Sales at the 2026 Edition of EXPO Chicago, and Other News.
The 2026 EXPO Chicago art fair closed with strong sales, drawing nearly 35,000 visitors and over 130 galleries, while partnering with the Obama Presidential Center for museum previews. In parallel, the Circulation(s) Festival highlighted 26 emerging European photographers in Paris,...
How Spanish Ceramics Bridge Culture, Memory and Identity at Milan Design Week 2026
During Milan Design Week 2026, Tile of Spain presented "Spanish Design as a Souvenir," an installation of eleven sculptural objects fully clad in ceramic tiles. Designed by Codoo Studio, the works reinterpret iconic Spanish cultural items such as flamenco tablaos, castanets,...
Dior Is Sponsoring Two Exhibitions at Kyotographie
Dior is sponsoring two exhibitions at the Kyotographie International Photography Festival in Kyoto, which runs from April 18 to May 17. The shows feature South African artist Lebohang Kganye, whose work will be displayed at the historic Higashi Hongan‑ji Temple using washi paper,...
Earth Tree Installation / Kengo Kuma & Associates + Dinesen
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and his firm Kengo Kuma & Associates, together with Danish timber specialist Dinesen, opened “Earth | Tree” at Copenhagen Contemporary on March 28, 2026. The site‑specific installation transforms a former industrial hall using handcrafted Douglas fir, brick, and...
Painting With Blood: Who Does It and Who Collects It
The use of human and animal blood as a medium has moved from fringe provocation to a recognized niche within contemporary art. Artists such as Marc Quinn, Vincent Castiglia, Hermann Nitsch, Andrés Serrano and Jordan Eagles employ blood to explore vulnerability,...
Capcom Director Takayuki Nakayama Demonstrates His Artistic Talent with Mural Depicting Main Cast Members of Street Fighter 6
Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama unveiled a hand‑drawn mural featuring six franchise characters. The artwork, begun on April 7 and completed by April 10, is now on display at Kashihara Navi Plaza. It showcases legacy icons Ryu, Ken and Chun‑Li alongside newcomers Luke,...
The Presence of Ice:Sebastião Salgado’s Glaciers
Renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado has released *Glaciers*, a coffee‑table book of 65 duotone images captured across Patagonia, the Himalayas, Antarctica and Russia. The collection showcases sweeping ice fields, crevasses and penguin colonies, while interweaving climate‑science commentary from Elisa Palazzi. Salgado’s...
AI Generated the Animation for This TV Show. Is It 'Cool' Or 'Messed Up'?
Indonesia’s free‑to‑air series Legenda Bertuah has become the country’s first TV show fully animated with generative AI. Each 30‑minute episode, released weekly since January, requires about a month of work by a ten‑person team that includes prompt engineers, scriptwriters and...
A Whole Lotta New Concrete in Culture This Week
Major cultural institutions are pouring record capital into physical infrastructure, with LACMA launching a $724 million campus overhaul, London’s National Gallery adding a $464 million modern‑art wing, and the Dallas Symphony securing a $50 million endowment. At the same time, governance and public...
New York City Louise Bourgeois at Hauser &Wirth by Jonathan Goodman
Louise Bourgeois’s work returns to New York with a major retrospective at Hauser & Wirth in Chelsea, opening April 12, 2026. The show assembles signature pieces such as the kinetic sculpture “Twosome” (1991), the marble “Untitled (With Hand)” (1989), and the 2006 watercolor series “Ray...
Indy Airport, INARF Celebrate Hoosier Artists with Disabilities
Indianapolis International Airport launched a new exhibit in Civic Plaza featuring 92 artworks created by 90 Hoosier artists with developmental disabilities. The high‑visibility display reaches more than 10 million travelers each year, with several pieces offered for sale and proceeds going...
Celeste Dupuy-Spencer, Painter Who Used Her Art to Fight for Justice, Dies at 46
Celeste Dupuy‑Spencer, a Los Angeles‑based painter known for confronting racism, political upheaval, and queer identity, died at 46. Her work ranged from stark depictions of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to intimate scenes of lovers, often flattening pictorial space to critique...
A Workingman’s Surrealist
American sculptor H.C. Westermann, whose career was sparked by witnessing the 1945 USS Franklin disaster, built a lifelong obsession with a “death ship” motif that fuses wartime trauma with pulp‑era imagery. The Art Institute of Chicago’s “Anchor Clanker” exhibition, presented by...
What Germany’s Art Market Reveals About the Limits of Localism
German art dealers are grappling with a 4% contraction in domestic sales while the broader EU market grew 2% between 2024 and 2025. In response, Art Cologne staged a satellite edition in Mallorca, targeting collectors who spend their Easter holidays...
With Pecking Chickens and Tropical Cocktails, Massimiliano Locatelli Is Reviving the Millennia-Old Art of Mosaic Tile Murals
At Milan Design Week 2026, architect Massimiliano Locatelli transformed the SiMa Townhouse cocktail bar into "Glazed Bar," a three‑storey venue wrapped in hand‑crafted ceramic mosaic murals. The murals, produced by veteran Vietnamese artisans, depict a sky‑filled ground floor, a miniature...
Anna Park's New Show at Lehmann Maupin in London Offers a Voyeuristic Mix of the Abstract and the Figurative
Anna Park presents her first major London retrospective, “Hot Honey,” at Lehmann Maupin, blending large‑scale abstract charcoal and ink with figurative comic‑book references. The show critiques vintage pin‑up tropes and the male gaze, using playful symbols like bunny ears and...
Collectors Are Forking Out for Modernist Cutlery
Collectors are paying premium prices for modernist cutlery as the genre gains cultural cachet. The Denver Art Museum will open “Knife Fork Spoon: Everyday Tools, Extraordinary Design,” featuring 150 flatware sets from 1900 to today, including works by Josef Hoffmann,...
Chicago’s Neighbors and Barely Fairs Show the Strengths of Smaller, Alternative Formats
Chicago’s spring art calendar now includes two intimate fairs that contrast with the massive Expo Chicago. Barely Fair, running through April 19 in McKinley Park, showcases 32 exhibitors in 20‑square‑foot booths with works priced from $150 to $8,000, emphasizing experimental formats. Neighbors,...
“In Constant Motion for Its Own Sake” — the Met’s New “Tristan”
Conrad L. Osborne delivers a scathing review of Yuvan Sharon’s new Met production of Tristan und Isolde, calling its high‑tech staging a symbol of a world in constant motion without focus. Despite the critique, the production has garnered notable acclaim, raising questions...
What Made Marcel Duchamp’s Readymades So Revolutionary?
Marcel Duchamp’s Readymades, first coined in 1915, transformed ordinary manufactured objects into art simply by the artist’s designation. Early examples such as a bicycle wheel mounted on a stool and a spiky bottle‑drying rack set the tone for a series...
Tensions Rise Over Proposed New Zealand Statue Commemorating ‘Comfort Women’ Japan Forced Into Sexual Slavery, Have a Bartering Breakfast with...
A bronze statue of a seated girl, donated by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance, is slated for Auckland’s Barry’s Point Reserve to honor an estimated 200,000 women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military between 1932 and...
New York City Layla Love Wants to Make Art that Could Stop Wars. By Anthony Haden-Guest
Layla Love, a New York‑based multidisciplinary artist, has spent 15 years developing her Butterfly Effect series, a complex blend of photography, painting, gold leaf and light‑mapping that never repeats a technique. Drawing on experiences from war‑zone photojournalism, teaching autistic children,...