Biennale of Sydney Unveils New Details for 2026 Program

The Biennale of Sydney has announced further details for its 25th edition, “Rememory,” scheduled to run from March 14 to June 14, 2026. Under the leadership of internationally acclaimed curator Hoor Al Qasimi, the event will feature an initial wave of 37 artists and collectives across multiple citywide venues—including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, Penrith Regional Gallery, and the newly restored White Bay Power Station. Taking its title from American novelist Toni Morrison’s work, the biennale will explore how memory shapes identity and belonging. “Rememory connects the delicate space between remembering and forgetting, delving into the fragmented and forgotten parts of history,” Al Qasimi explained in a press release. 15 First Nations artists from around the world will create new commissions in partnership with the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris. The biennale aims to highlight marginalized narratives and untold stories from Aboriginal communities and the diverse diasporas that shape Australia today.

Pacita Abad Archives Acquired by Stanford University 

Stanford University has announced the acquisition and stewardship of Pacita Abad’s archives through a collaboration with the Cantor Arts Center, its affiliated Asian American Art Initiative (AAAI), and the Department of Special Collections at Stanford University Libraries. Gifted by the Pacita Abad Art Estate, the collection spans more than three decades of the late Philippine American artist’s career and comprises photographs, unpublished works, sketches, exhibition records, letters, and other personal artifacts. These materials offer further glimpses into Abad’s peripatetic life, beginning with her time in the San Francisco Bay Area during the ‘70s—when she met her husband, Jack Garrity—up until her passing in 2004. The acquisition contributes to Stanford’s growing archival collection of Asian American artists such as Bernice Bing and Ruth Asawa, underlining the AAAI’s mission to honor these trailblazing figures. The Abad archives will complement her other works on view at Cantor—such as her Foothill Cabin (1976) painting of Garrity enveloped by a vibrant patchwork quilt—and will be publicly accessible to students, professors, scholars, curators, and artists both at Stanford and around the world.

Indian Artist Wins 2025 Eye Art & Film Prize

Amsterdam’s Eye Filmmuseum has named New Delhi-based photographer and filmmaker Sohrab Hura as the 11th winner of its annual EUR 30,000 (USD 33,000) Eye Art & Film Prize, which was established in 2015 to support individuals who work in film and the visual arts. Spanning film, drawing, photography, sound, and text, Hura’s practice delves into the complex social issues and power structures in India. In a statement, the jury praised Hura’s versatile approach to artmaking: “His creations exist somewhere between essay and encounter, between documentary and dream. In doing so, he sharply—and at times poetically—reveals the contradictions and surreal nature of contemporary life, particularly in the context of South Asia, while building a visual language that resonates globally.”

Seoul Welcomes New Photography Museum 

After a ten-year establishment process, Seoul’s first public museum dedicated to photography will open on May 29. Located in the Chang-dong, Dobong-gu neighborhood of the South Korean capital, the Photography Seoul Museum of Art (PhotoSeMA) aims to explore the artistic value of photography as well as its intrinsic documentary function. There will be two inaugural exhibitions: “The Radiance: Beginnings of Korean Art Photography,” exploring the history of photography in Korea through works in the institution’s collection; and “Storage Story,” unveils new commissions by a selection of contemporary artists, which reflect the construction process and surroundings of the museum. Designed by Austrian architect Jadric Architektur (ZT GmbH) and Korean architect 1990 Urban Architecture, the building’s curved black-and-gray facade architecturally embodies the way photography captures light and time. PhotoSeMa will also house a lobby, photobook cafe, photo library, and learning studios, offering a platform for audiences of all ages and backgrounds to engage with the artistic and cultural significance of photography throughout history and in the present day.

2025 Rydal Art Prize Winner Revealed 

On May 23, Te Uru Contemporary Gallery announced Nigerian-born, Auckland-based painter Ruth Ige as the winner of its 2025 Rydal Art Prize, which recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the painting scene in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ige was selected by a panel of nationally acclaimed art professionals, including Natasha Conland, senior curator of global contemporary art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki; Taarati Taiaroa, assistant curator of contemporary Māori art at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery Len Lye Centre; and Te Uru curator James Gatt. The jury lauded Ige’s evocative paintings, often rendered in indigo blues, which center on poetic representations of the Black female figure and explore themes of heritage, identity, and transformation. As part of the award, Ige will receive a non-acquisitional cash prize of AUD 25,000 (USD 16,045) and the opportunity to present new works in a solo exhibition at Te Uru, set to open on August 22 the following year.

Gallery Weekend Beijing Announces 2025 Exhibition Award Winners 

On May 23, Gallery Weekend Beijing 2025 announced the recipients of the event’s two major accolades. Shanghai-based artist Guo Cheng’s solo show at Magician Space, titled “Bug,” clinched the Best Exhibition Award. “Bug” was selected by a jury comprising young curators and institution directors, who lauded the presentation for its unique curatorial vision and contribution to contemporary discourse. In addition, the Infinity Award was granted to two exhibitions this year: Chinese painter Li Shurui’s “Something Comes from Nothing” at White Space, and Vietnamese artist Nguyễn Trinh Thi’s “47 Days, Sound-Less” at Spurs Gallery. Both selections were made by a jury of five young curators—Chen Li, Fu Yuan, Liu Qianxi, Sun Wenjie, and Wang Huan.