Cultural agenda
Exhibitions and cultural events from museums and galleries worldwide.
Emerging from Darkness: Prints by Hamanishi Katsunori
The Art Institute of Chicago is currently hosting a long-term exhibition that offers a focused look into the meticulous and atmospheric world of a contemporary Japanese master. "Emerging from Darkness: Prints by Hamanishi Katsunori," on view through June 22, 2026, presents a compelling survey of an artist who has dedicated his distinguished career to one of printmaking’s most challenging mediums: the mezzotint.
Ancient Impressions: China to Notre-Dame Rubbings Unveiled at MAD
Paris's Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD) is set to host "Le langage des murs. Estampages de la Chine à Notre-Dame," an exhibition offering an extraordinary look at the ancient technique of rubbing. Juxtaposing rare Chinese historical impressions with newly created rubbings from the Notre-Dame Cathedral restoration, this focused show promises to bridge centuries and cultures through a fascinating art form.
Rembrandt's Neighborhood: Boston Exhibition Examines the Real and Imagined Jews of 17th-Century Amsterdam
A major exhibition opening late next year at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), promises a nuanced re-examination of one of art history’s most celebrated and debated relationships: that between Rembrandt van Rijn and the Jewish community of 17th-century Amsterdam. Running from December 12, 2025, to December 1, 2026, Real and Imagined: Rembrandt and the Jews of the 17th-Century Dutch Republic moves beyond romanticized notions to present an evidence-based exploration of the artist's world.
A Papal Partnership: Bernini and the Barberini at St. Peter's Basilica
A unique curatorial initiative in Rome offers an in-situ exploration of one of art history's most consequential partnerships: that of Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his principal patron, Pope Urban VIII, born Maffeo Barberini. Titled Bernini and the Barberini in St. Peter’s Basilica, this series of guided tours provides a focused look at the artist's transformative commissions within the Vatican basilica, running until June 30, 2026.
Korean National Treasures: 2,000 Years of Art
The Art Institute of Chicago is set to host a landmark exhibition of Korean art, its most significant in forty years. From March 7 through July 5, 2026, *Korean National Treasures: 2,000 Years of Art* will present a sweeping overview of the peninsula’s artistic heritage. The exhibition features 140 masterworks, including 22 pieces officially designated by the Korean government as National Treasures or Treasures for their exceptional artistic and historical value.
The Artist in the Mirror: The Petit Palais Explores a Century of Self-Representation
The Petit Palais in Paris unveils *Visages d'artistes*, an expansive exhibition tracking how creators have depicted themselves and their peers from the 19th century to the present. Delving into the museum's rich collection, the show juxtaposes masterpieces with rarely seen works, offering a profound look at the artist's persona.
The Petit Palais Recontextualizes European Modernism with Károly Ferenczy
While a household name in his native Hungary, Károly Ferenczy (1862-1917) remains an obscure figure for many in Western Europe. The Petit Palais in Paris aims to decisively change this with "Károly Ferenczy: Hungarian Modernity," the first-ever French retrospective dedicated to the artist, running until September 6, 2026. This landmark exhibition, organized in close partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest, presents a compelling argument for Ferenczy’s place as a central and highly original figure in the broader story of European modern art at the turn of the 20th century.
Vienna Exhibition Unites Masters of the European Cityscape
An upcoming major exhibition at Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum will offer a deep comparative study of two of the 18th century’s most significant cityscape painters: Giovanni Antonio Canal, universally known as Canaletto, and his nephew, Bernardo Bellotto. Running from March 24 to September 6, 2026, the presentation brings together celebrated works from international collections to explore the intertwined yet distinct careers of this master and pupil, whose views of Europe’s great capitals continue to command immense respect in both art history and the market.
Chicago Exhibition Explores the Dawn of Ukiyo-e Through a Landmark Collection
The Art Institute of Chicago is set to present a focused exhibition delving into the origins of one of Japan’s most influential art forms. *The Floating World Emerges: Japanese Prints from the Clarence Buckingham Collection*, running from June 24 to September 6, 2026, will feature approximately 40 works that trace the development of ukiyo-e. Curated by Janice Katz, the museum's Roger L. Weston Curator of Japanese Art, the show draws exclusively from a foundational collection to explore the culture, technology, and aesthetics of Edo-period Japan.
Deep Cuts: A Global Re-examination of Block Printing at LACMA
This coming fall, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will launch an ambitious survey that re-evaluates one of the world’s most foundational artistic technologies. Titled Deep Cuts: Block Printing Across Cultures, the exhibition will run from November 9, 2025, to September 13, 2026, offering a long-term opportunity for professionals to engage with a medium that has shaped visual culture for centuries. Drawing primarily from the museum’s own permanent collection, the show aims to present a more integrated and expansive history of block printing, moving beyond conventional geographical and chronological divisions.
Beyond Painting: Städel Museum Explores the Prints That Made Bruegel a Star
This summer, the Städel Museum in Frankfurt will offer a critical re-examination of Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1526/30–1569), shifting the focus from the canvases that define his modern image to the graphic works that built his contemporary fame. Running from 18 June to 20 September 2026, the exhibition Bruegel Printed presents a compelling argument that to truly understand the Netherlandish master, one must first appreciate his foundational work as a designer of prints.
A Definitive Look at Andrea Pazienza at MAXXI Rome
Rome’s MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts, is set to host a major exhibition dedicated to one of Italy’s most revered and rebellious visual artists, Andrea Pazienza. Titled Andrea Pazienza. Non sempre si muore (You Don’t Always Die), the show runs from April 24 to September 27, 2026. This comprehensive museum tribute marks the 70th anniversary of the artist's birth and solidifies his position as a pivotal figure in late 20th-century Italian culture, whose influence extends far beyond the world of comics.
Uncovering the Lampis: How a Vienna Exhibition Reveals the Secret Histories of Two Paintings
A fascinating new exhibition at Vienna's Upper Belvedere is pulling back the curtain on the work of a prominent father-and-son artistic dynasty, Johann Baptist Lampi the Elder (1751–1830) and Johann Baptist Lampi the Younger (1775–1837). Titled IN-SIGHT: Johann Baptist Lampi The Elder and The Younger, the show moves beyond a simple retrospective. Instead, it offers a compelling case study in conservation, revealing how two key paintings from the museum’s collection were radically altered by later hands, and how their recent restoration has rewritten their art-historical narratives.
A Rare Vermeer Masterpiece Arrives in Rome
This summer, Rome’s Palazzo Barberini will become the temporary home for one of the most celebrated works of the Dutch Golden Age. From July 8 to October 11, 2026, Johannes Vermeer’s Woman in Blue Reading a Letter (c. 1663-1664) will be presented in a special exhibition, an exceptional loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. For collectors, historians, and art lovers, this event represents a rare opportunity to engage with the work of an artist whose extreme scarcity and profound intimacy continue to captivate the art world.
Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is presenting a landmark exhibition that documents a century of profound social and sartorial change through the lens of Chinese women's fashion. Titled *Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity*, the show is reportedly the first of its kind for the museum. Running from June 14 through October 12, 2026, it offers a visually rich narrative that connects the evolution of dress to the shifting identities of Chinese and Chinese American women during a period of immense upheaval.
The Private Lens of a Public Icon: Warhol's 'Family Album' at the Whitney
For an artist who built a career on the glossy surfaces of celebrity and mass production, the notion of a private life can seem like a contradiction. Yet, the Whitney Museum of American Art is offering an unusually intimate look into Andy Warhol’s world with Andy Warhol Family Album. Running from April 30 to October 19, 2026, this exhibition presents a focused collection of 732 Polaroid photographs, providing a rare glimpse into the artist's personal and social circles between 1972 and 1973.
The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy
Long overshadowed by their famous successors, the Romans, the Etruscan civilization is set for a major reappraisal with the landmark exhibition, *The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy*. Organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), this comprehensive survey promises to re-establish the Etruscans not as a cultural prelude to Rome, but as a sophisticated and influential powerhouse in their own right. For scholars, collectors, and market professionals, this exhibition offers a rare, in-depth look at a culture whose innovations laid the groundwork for much of Western civilization.
Adelaide to Host Rare Masterworks in ‘Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition’
Adelaide’s Art Gallery of South Australia prepares for a major 2026 exhibition, 'Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition,' featuring fifty-seven masterworks from the Toledo Museum of Art. This exclusive showcase promises a deep dive into modern art's pivotal movements, offering a unique opportunity for art professionals and collectors.
Self, Made: Fourteen Modern Artists from the Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Collection
The Art Institute of Chicago is set to present a significant exhibition drawn from one of the city's most distinguished private holdings. From June 25 to November 9, 2026, *Self, Made: Fourteen Modern Artists from the Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Collection* will offer a focused exploration into the theme of self-invention through nearly 40 works of photography, painting, drawing, and sculpture. The exhibition provides a rare public viewing of a curated selection from a collection known for its depth, quality, and insightful focus.
An Epic Journey Unfolds in Chicago: Raqib Shaw’s Paradise Lost
A work of staggering scale and obsessive detail is currently commanding attention at the Art Institute of Chicago. London-based artist Raqib Shaw’s *Paradise Lost*, a monumental painting measuring over 100 feet wide, is being presented to the public for the first time in its complete, 21-panel form. The result of a creative process spanning from 2009 to 2025, this “Special Loan Installation,” as designated by the museum, is not merely a large-scale work but a deeply personal magnum opus that synthesizes a lifetime of experiences and a vast array of art historical influences.
Chicago Unveils a Renaissance Mystery: The Saint-Porchaire Ceramics
The Art Institute of Chicago is offering a rare window into one of the most enigmatic chapters of French Renaissance decorative arts. Titled Saint-Porchaire Ceramics: Rediscovered Treasures of the French Renaissance, this special installation presents an exceptional group of ceramics whose precise origins and patronage continue to spark scholarly debate. For collectors, curators, and specialists in European decorative arts, this exhibition is a significant event, as it brings together works from a private collection, the majority of which, according to the French Porcelain Society, have never before been displayed for the public.
Frida Kahlo: Deconstructing the Icon at Tate Modern
Tate Modern is set to host a major exhibition in 2026 that moves beyond a traditional retrospective to examine a more complex question: How did Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter, become one of the most pervasive cultural icons of the modern era? Titled *Frida: The Making of an Icon*, the exhibition will run from 25 June 2026 to 3 January 2027, offering a deep dive into the artist's life, work, and the posthumous phenomenon of "Fridamania."
Mary Cassatt: After Impressionism — A Modernist Re-examined in Chicago
A century after her death, the Art Institute of Chicago is set to mount a major re-evaluation of Mary Cassatt, one of the most pivotal figures in American art. Running from September 6, 2026, to January 3, 2027, *Mary Cassatt: After Impressionism* shifts the focus from her celebrated involvement with the French Impressionists to the profoundly innovative and experimental decades that followed. The exhibition, the first at the institution dedicated solely to the artist in over 25 years, promises a fresh perspective on a career that continued to evolve long after the Impressionist group disbanded.
Embroidered Traditions from Morocco to Afghanistan
The Art Institute of Chicago is set to unveil a landmark exhibition, offering a sweeping survey of textile arts from Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA). Titled *Embroidered Traditions from Morocco to Afghanistan*, the show runs from May 2, 2026, to January 25, 2027. It marks a significant moment for the institution, as it is the first exhibition in its history devoted exclusively to the rich and diverse artistic traditions of this vast region.
Beyond the Beacon: Musée d'Orsay Unpacks Bartholdi's Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is so ingrained in the global consciousness that it can be difficult to perceive it as the product of a single artist's vision. A forthcoming exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay, "Auguste Bartholdi: La Liberté éclairant le monde," aims to re-centre the narrative on its creator. Scheduled from September 15, 2026, to January 31, 2027, the presentation is timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence. It promises a comprehensive look at the 19th-century French sculptor, exploring the full scope of a career defined by monumental ambition and shaped by the political currents of his era.
Audrey Amiss: The Surviving Exhibitions
In a significant event for the study of post-war British art, the Wellcome Collection will present the first-ever museum exhibition dedicated to the work of Audrey Amiss (1933–2013). Scheduled to run from 10 July 2026 to 7 February 2027, *Audrey Amiss: The Surviving Exhibitions* promises to introduce a prolific and compelling artistic voice that has, until now, remained largely outside the public and commercial spheres. The exhibition offers a foundational look at an artist whose extensive body of work was only fully comprehended after her death, providing critical context for her emerging legacy.
Sorcerers from Bohemia: Picasso's Formative Foray into Printmaking
The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is offering an intimate look into the itinerant world of circus performers who captivated a young Pablo Picasso with its long-running exhibition, 'Sorcerers from Bohemia'. On view in Brisbane until 12 February 2027, this free exhibition presents a pivotal moment in the artist’s career: his first significant engagement with printmaking. It provides a unique window into the social milieu and artistic crucible that shaped one of the twentieth century’s most formidable talents.
Beatriz González: In Series and Full Color
The Art Institute of Chicago is currently hosting a landmark exhibition dedicated to the works on paper of Beatriz González, one of the most influential Latin American artists of the 20th century. Beatriz González: In Series and Full Color is the first retrospective to focus exclusively on the Colombian artist’s prints and drawings, offering a comprehensive survey of a practice that spanned over six decades. The exhibition is a timely tribute, arriving after the artist’s recent passing and cementing her legacy as a critical voice in modern art history.
Antonis Pittas Reimagines Modernism at Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Beginning July 18, 2026, the Kunstmuseum Den Haag will present a new iteration of its ambitious "Mix & Match" series, featuring contemporary artist Antonis Pittas. Titled *Bleu, blauw, μπλε, blau, blue – Compositions*, the exhibition invites Pittas to engage in a direct dialogue with the museum's extensive holdings, which include over 160,000 works. Running through March 7, 2027, this installation promises a critical examination of the colour blue, tracing its symbolic journey through art, ideology, and political history.
Dressed Up: Fashion & Photography 1850–1920
From December 5, 2026, to March 21, 2027, the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) will present Dressed Up: Fashion & Photography 1850–1920, an exhibition that delves into the institution's own extensive collections to explore a pivotal era of social and stylistic transformation. The free-entry show places historical South Australian garments in direct conversation with the nascent art of photography, offering a nuanced look at the interplay between self-presentation, craftsmanship, and societal change.
Taryn Simon to Transform Guggenheim with Monumental 2026 Exhibition
In September 2026, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York will unveil a major exhibition dedicated to the work of Taryn Simon. The show is poised to be a landmark event, premiering a new body of work that will occupy the entirety of Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic rotunda. This ambitious presentation will feature a singular, interactive installation comprising never-before-seen photographs, videos, sculptures, and texts.
Jannis Kounellis: Re-evaluating the 'Painter' of Arte Povera
A forthcoming exhibition at the Collezione Giancarlo e Danna Olgiati in Switzerland is poised to re-examine the legacy of Jannis Kounellis, one of the most influential figures of post-war European art. Titled *Io sono un pittore* ('I am a painter'), the project, curated by Vincenzo de Bellis, takes the artist's own frequent declaration as its guiding principle. It proposes a critical departure from the conventional understanding of Kounellis (1936–2017) as primarily a master of installation or a leading proponent of Arte Povera. Instead, it argues for painting as the fundamental interpretative key to his entire body of work.
Collection in Focus | The Reach of Faith Ringgold
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is set to offer a concentrated exploration of one of the most significant figures in postwar American art, Faith Ringgold (1930–2024). From May 9 to September 14, 2025, *The Reach of Faith Ringgold* will anchor a conversation around a single, monumental work from the museum's own holdings, positioning the late artist, writer, and activist as a crucial link within the art historical canon.