Brooklyn Museum Honors Iris Van Herpen at the 2026 Brooklyn Artists Ball
The Brooklyn Museum staged the 2026 Brooklyn Artists Ball, honoring avant‑garde designer Iris van Herpen and launching the North American debut of her retrospective “Sculpting the Senses,” which showcases more than 140 couture creations alongside contemporary art and scientific artifacts. A champagne reception, candlelit dinner and DJ‑driven dance party attracted cultural heavyweights from fashion, film, music and art. The exhibition underscores van Herpen’s interdisciplinary approach, merging technology, biology and design. The gala also served as a high‑visibility fundraiser to broaden the museum’s donor base and visitor numbers.
Seven Significant National Pavilions From the 2026 Venice Biennale
The 61st Venice Biennale opened on May 12, 2026 under the theme “In Minor Keys,” featuring 99 national pavilions, seven of them debuting. Highlights included Australia’s historic first Australian artist in its pavilion, Iceland’s dreamlike “Pocket Universe” with a viral...
Frieze New York Will Open With 68 Galleries From 26 Countries, and Other News.
Frieze New York returns for its 15th edition on May 13, showcasing 68 galleries from 26 nations with a spotlight on Central and South American talent. Tiffany & CFDA unveiled a new $25,000 scholarship and internship for emerging jewelry designers, expanding their...
Koray Duman Is Architecting Engagement From the Venice Biennale to Carnegie International
Bureau Koray Duman (B‑KD) unveiled five high‑profile international projects, including the UAE National Pavilion and Denniston Hill installation at the 61st Venice Biennale and the 59th Carnegie International exhibition in Pittsburgh. The studio also completed the Noguchi Museum storage‑archive in...
The Koyo Kouoh Foundation Launches in Memory of the Late Venice Biennale Curator, and Other News.
The Koyo Kouoh Foundation was launched to preserve the legacy of the late curator who became the first African woman to helm the Venice Biennale, coinciding with her posthumous exhibition “In Minor Keys” at the 2026 Biennale. Indonesian multimedia artist Dian Suci...
Design Platform IKONstudio to Debut Archival SOM Seat with Rarify
IKONstudio, the new design platform from Toronto‑based Teknion, is debuting its first archival piece, the iconic SOM79 chair originally created for Halston in the 1970s. The chair will be showcased in a Halston‑inspired installation at NYCxDesign’s Afternoon Light fair from...
Law Roach on the 2026 Met Gala, Making It Personal, and a Look That Became a Canvas
Law Roach used his fifth Met Gala appearance to become the story, debuting a crisp white three‑piece suit that served as a live canvas. He enlisted Gabonese artist Naïla Opiangah to hand‑paint abstract embracing figures onto the jacket, turning the...
Richard Lewer’s Iluwanti Ken Portrait Won the Archibald Prize, and Other News.
Australian artist Richard Lewer captured the 2026 Archibald Prize with his portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken, earning the A$100,000 award (about $66,000). The Metropolitan Museum of Art secured a gift exceeding $23 million to fund its fully paid internship program, supporting...
Marina Abramović’s Historic Venice Biennale Exhibition Is a Full-Circle Moment
Marina Abramović, the 80‑year‑old performance‑art pioneer, has become the first living woman to receive a dedicated solo exhibition at Venice’s Gallerie dell’Accademia. Titled “Marina Abramović: Transforming Energy,” the show weaves her seminal works with Renaissance masterpieces, creating a dialogue between...
The Holy See Pavilion Asks Venice Biennale Visitors to Slow Down Listen, and Other News.
The Holy See’s pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale launches a multi‑sensory show called “The Ear is the Eye of the Soul,” featuring 24 artists such as Patti Smith, Brian Eno and FKA twigs. Chanel and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation unveil a one‑year transatlantic...
Contxt Venice Organizes More than 190 Exhibitions for This Year’s Biennale, and Other News.
Contxt Venice has deployed an AI‑driven conversational platform to coordinate more than 190 concurrent exhibitions at this year’s Biennale, simplifying visitor navigation. In Montreal, Concordia students repurposed salvaged Kevlar from the Olympic Stadium roof into furniture, highlighting a circular‑economy initiative....
Derrick Adams Installs Large-Scale Tribute to Late Curator Koyo Kouoh in Venice, and Other News.
Artist Derrick Adams unveiled a monumental portrait honoring late curator Koyo Kouoh on a Venice Biennale façade, while Iran withdrew from the same event amid rising geopolitical tensions. The 2026 Met Gala swapped its iconic red carpet for a moss‑covered...
Leica Opened Its First-Ever Chicago Flagship
Leica opened its first Chicago flagship on April 30, a 5,000‑square‑foot, two‑level store and gallery in the Gold Coast district. The venue combines retail of cameras, watches, sport optics and accessories with Leica Akademie workshops and the “Life Unposed” exhibition by Craig Semetko. The...
BFA and Surface Fête The Return of The Huntington Hotel
The Huntington Hotel in San Francisco reopened on March 2 after a six‑year closure and a redesign led by Ken Fulk. BFA, a global event photography and videography agency, partnered with Surface Magazine to host a celebration for tech, fashion and cultural...
A Rhythm for Parisian Wellness Takes Hold at Sant Roch
Sant Roch opened a month ago just off the Tuileries Garden, offering Paris its first dedicated contrast‑therapy venue. The space features France’s largest sauna—over 60 sqm—and a sequence of five cold plunges kept between 3 °C and 8 °C, with optional guided breathwork and...
Inside the International Center of Photography’s 42nd Infinity Awards Gala
The International Center of Photography hosted its 42nd Infinity Awards gala on May 1, 2026, honoring five photographers—Tarrah Krajnak, Joel Meyerowitz, Haruka Sakaguchi, Collier Schorr, and Betty Catroux, who received the Image Icon Award. The ceremony, chaired by trustees Stefano Tonchi and Jessica Nagle, featured speeches, a multi‑course...
Venice Biennale Jury Resigns, and Other News.
The 2026 Venice Biennale’s international jury quit en masse, forcing the organizers to postpone awards and shift to visitor‑selected prizes. Meanwhile, British billionaire Joe Lewis will auction a £150‑200 million private collection at Sotheby’s London, the UK’s most valuable single‑owner sale to date....
With His New Collaboration, Charles Leclerc Furthers His Connection to Number 16
Charles Leclerc has teamed up with Chivas Regal to launch Chivas Regal 16, a limited‑edition 16‑year‑old whisky highlighted by a sherry‑cask‑matured Longmorn single malt. Guided by master blender Sandy Hyslop, the collaboration involved tastings in Scotland and a launch event in...
Simon De Pury Doc ‘The Hammer’ Will Head to Cannes, and Other News.
The art world is buzzing as “The Hammer,” a documentary on auctioneer Simon de Pury, will debut at the 2026 Cannes Film Market, offering a rare glimpse into his theatrical influence on global sales. In London, Whitechapel Gallery has named economist...
Seven Garden Installations From Milan Design Week
Milan Design Week featured seven garden‑themed installations that blended design with nature, from Gucci’s historic cloister garden to Kohler’s pollinator bathhouse. Brands used immersive landscapes to showcase new collections and sustainability narratives, often in hidden courtyards and cloisters. The projects...
Dorsia’s Essential 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix Guide
The 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix guide maps a weekend packed with luxury dining, exclusive brand activations and high‑energy club nights. Apple TV and Beats launch a women‑focused dinner with Chef Wei Chen, while Clase Azul rolls out a limited‑edition Spirit of Champions...
Partaking in Ananas Ananas’ Site-Specific Food Installation for Casa Laveni
Mexico‑ and Los Angeles‑based food‑art studio Ananas Ananas staged a site‑specific installation for the opening of Milan’s new boutique hotel Casa Laveni. The studio presented marzipan pieces shaped like cherries and plums alongside fresh strawberries on stainless‑steel experimental tableware. The edible display...
Tate Britain Will Exhibit ‘90s Art and Fashion, and Other News.
Tate Britain will launch “The 90s: Art and Fashion” in autumn 2026, a guest‑curated show by Edward Enninful that assembles around 70 creators from Steve McQueen to Vivienne Westwood. Gagosian has opened a 2,275‑sq‑ft ground‑floor flagship on Madison Avenue, debuting works by Marcel Duchamp and...
Weight, Memory, and Care Inform Sheida Soleimani’s “Forest of Stars” At Yancey Richardson
Sheida Soleimani’s "Forest of Stars" opens at Yancey Richardson through May 23, merging her Ghostwriter series—photographic tableaux rooted in her parents’ exile after the 1979 Iranian Revolution—with newly added migratory birds from her wildlife‑rehabilitation work. The exhibition foregrounds care as a...
Designer of the Day: Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu’s Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, founded in 2004, continues to expand its global footprint with the launch of Monogram New York, a 35‑story Art Deco‑inspired luxury residential tower. The firm acted as lead interior architects, shaping the...
Dataland, World’s First A.I. Arts Museum, Will Open in June, and Other News.
Dataland, billed as the world’s first museum devoted to AI‑generated art, will open on June 20 at The Grand LA in downtown Los Angeles. Its inaugural show, “Machine Dreams: Rainforest,” uses massive environmental data sets to create immersive, multi‑sensory installations. Meanwhile,...
Art Basel’s ‘Basel Exclusive’ Initiative Asks Galleries to Withhold at Least One Work From PDF Previews, and Other News.
Art Basel is launching the “Basel Exclusive” program for its June 2026 fair, urging roughly 170 of its 232 exhibitors—including Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace and David Zwirner—to withhold at least one high‑profile work from pre‑fair PDF previews to drive in‑person visits. The move...
Printed Matter’s 50th Anniversary Benefit Dinner Celebrated Artist Ed Ruscha
Printed Matter, the nonprofit champion of artists' books, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a benefit dinner honoring pop‑art pioneer Ed Ruscha. The evening began with cocktails in the High Line Hotel courtyard before moving to a dinner at Vanderbilt University’s Chelsea...
Solange Oliveira Farkas Will Lead the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lions Jury, and Other News.
Solange Oliveira Farkas was appointed president of the five‑person Golden Lions jury for the 2026 Venice Biennale, joining four other art leaders to award the best national pavilion and artist. Adobe is piloting an AI‑driven website generator called Asset Amplify...
The Eames Pavilion System for Prefab Housing Launches in Milan, and Other News.
The Eames Office and Kettal unveiled the Eames Pavilion System at Milan Design Week, a modular prefabricated housing kit that blends aluminum frames with interchangeable glass, wood and composite panels for scalable, customizable homes. Taschen released a new monograph on...
A New Italian Social Hub Debuts High Above Miami’s Financial District
Seia, an Italian‑styled restaurant and club, has opened on the 54th floor of Miami’s new 830 Brickell office tower, the city’s first major standalone office building in over a decade. Designed by Laurence Macadam, the venue showcases museum‑grade works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst...
Tim Cook to Become Apple Executive Chairman as John Ternus Becomes CEO, and Other News.
Apple announced that Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1 to become executive chairman, while longtime hardware chief John Ternus will assume the CEO role, ending Cook’s 15‑year tenure. The change is framed as a continuity move that will...
Dallas Museum of Art Acquired Six Artists’ Works From the Dallas Art Fair, and Other News.
The Dallas Museum of Art’s Acquisition Fund celebrated its 10th anniversary by purchasing six works from the 2026 Dallas Art Fair, emphasizing Indigenous, LGBTQ, women and African‑diaspora artists. Alserkal appointed Rue Kothari to lead Design Miami Dubai and launched a five‑week Art Month featuring...
Artsy and Artnet Are Now Under the Same Ownership, and Other News.
Artnet and Artsy have been placed under shared ownership by Beowolff Capital, with CEO Jeffrey Yin steering a consolidation that blends Artnet’s market data and auction expertise with Artsy’s discovery and sales platform. The move aims to create a unified,...
CK Reed Illustrates Chicago’s Neighbors Boutique Art Fair
CK Reed, a Chicago‑based illustrator, created a watercolor spread for Surface that captures the inaugural Neighbors Boutique Art Fair. The fair, founded by Mirka Serrato, is curated by Jonny Tana with creative direction by Mark Baker‑Sanchez and occupies historic Astor...
The Dazzling Scenography of Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026
Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026 expects roughly 60,000 visitors, showcasing luxury timepieces amid theatrical installations. Van Cleef & Arpels presented a "Poetry of the Heavens" glass and gold‑thread pavilion, while Hermès unveiled a kinetic "Mysterious Mechanics" automaton housing three new skeleton watches. Jaeger‑LeCoultre...
A Vibrant Night Unfolded Within Fooq’s Miami For Citi Strata Elite℠ and The Supper Club
Citi Strata Elite℠ and The Supper Club staged an exclusive, multisensory dinner at Fooq’s Miami for cardmembers. Chef Andrew Bazzini led a live cooking demonstration of Florida Red Snapper amid a multi‑course Mediterranean menu and cocktail reception featuring a saxophone set. Guests left with...
Art Dubai Will Host a Scaled-Back “Special Edition,” And Other News.
Art Dubai will return in 2026 with a scaled‑back “special edition,” featuring about 75 curated presentations that replace the traditional booth model with collaborations and commissions. Authentic Brands Group is reviving Barneys New York, targeting small‑format stores and a potential Madison...
A Charity Raffle’s €100 Pablo Picasso Painting, and Other News.
A Paris charity is raffling Pablo Picasso’s 1941 work *Tête de femme* for €100 (about $109) per ticket, potentially raising €12 million ($13 million) for Alzheimer’s research. Meanwhile, the inaugural Medina Triennial will debut in New York with 39 artists exploring ecology and...
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,...
For Mirazur’s 20th Anniversary, Chef Mauro Colagreco Welcomed Ferran Adrià Into His Kitchen
Mirazur celebrated its 20th anniversary by unveiling the M20 menu, a 20‑plus‑dish tasting that runs through May 17. Chef Mauro Colagreco invited legendary Catalan chef Ferran Adrià to act as curator, injecting the menu with experimental techniques. The new dishes blend hyper‑local ingredients...
Tanner Fletcher Turns a Bridal Runway Show Into Fashion Fairy Tale
Tanner Fletcher transformed St. Bartholomew’s Church in Manhattan into a fairy‑tale runway for its Spring/Summer 2027 bridal collection, blending couture with ballet. The show, the label’s second collaboration with Etsy, featured crystal‑beaded gowns, silk florals and cake‑like detailing. Original music by Cameron...
MoMA PS1’s Free 50th Anniversary Block Party, and Other News.
MoMA PS1 will mark its 50th anniversary with a free, day‑long block party on April 18, coinciding with the opening of its “Greater New York” exhibition. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum announced Melissa Chiu as its new director, succeeding Mariët Westermann who will oversee...
Salone Del Mobile Will Feature a Fashion and Design Exhibition Curated by Palomba Serafini Associati, and Other News.
Salone del Mobile Milano 2026 will host “Abito,” a fashion and design exhibition curated by Palomba Serafini Associati that examines women’s evolving societal role. A fragment of Artemisia Gentileschi’s *Mary Magdalene*, missing its head, is set for auction at Vienna’s Dorotheum....
Ginori 1735’s Floral Florenza Dinner
Ginori 1735 unveiled its Florenza porcelain collection, "The Unframed Garden," at an immersive dinner hosted in New York’s Il Buco. The event blended a curated floral installation by Alex Crowder of Field Studies Florals with signature gin‑based cocktails and a seasonal multicourse menu....
A Photographic Discourse Between Beverly Price and Gordon Parks
The Center for Art and Advocacy in Brooklyn opened “A Language We Share: Beverly Price and Gordon Parks,” pairing the work of contemporary Black gay photographer Beverly Price with legendary visual storyteller Gordon Parks. Both artists captured everyday life in Washington,...
A Duchamp Retrospective Opens at MoMA, and Other News.
MoMA launches a comprehensive Marcel Duchamp retrospective (April 12‑August 22) that traces the artist’s six‑decade influence on modern movements. London’s National Gallery unveils a £750 million (≈$950 million) Project Domani expansion designed by Kengo Kuma, adding a 20th‑century wing. Seoul’s Centre Pompidou opens its first Korean outpost on...
A Century of Esoteric and Occult Artistry in “A Queer Arcana” At Palm Springs Art Museum
The Palm Springs Art Museum’s “A Queer Arcana” exhibition merges LGBTQ+ culture with magic, spirituality, and occult art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Curated under the museum’s Q+Art initiative launched in 2023, the show is organized into six thematic...