111 artists have been announced for the 2026 Venice Biennale.
The 61st Venice Biennale, titled “In Minor Keys” and curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, has announced 111 artists selected for the main international exhibition scheduled to run May 9–November 22, 2026 in Venice’s Giardini and Arsenale. The show emphasizes subtler emotional and sensory experiences, includes six artist-led organizations such as Denniston Hill and Raw Material Company, and features work from figures like Alvaro Barrington, Nick Cave, Werewere Liking, and Torkwase Dyson. Two central “shrines” will honor influential artists Issa Samb and Beverly Buchanan, while Khaled Sabsabi—whose pavilion role was previously disrupted—will exhibit large-scale installation work, reflecting Kouoh’s inclusive, collaborative vision.
Cooper Hewitt named its 2026 National Design Award recipients.
Cooper Hewitt, the Smithsonian Design Museum, announced the 2026 National Design Award winners, honoring excellence across ten categories selected by a multidisciplinary jury and to be celebrated at a gala on May 19 in New York City. This year’s honorees include Robert Earl Paige (Design Visionary), Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman (Climate Action), Mattaforma (Emerging Designer), Frida Escobedo Studio (Architecture), Thought Matter (Communication Design), Laura Kurgan (Digital Design), Josh Tafoya (Fashion Design), Charlap Hyman & Herrero (Interior Design), Ten Eyck Landscape Architects (Landscape Architecture), and Berea College Student Craft (Product Design). The awards, launched in 2000 as a White House Millennium Council project, spotlight designers whose work demonstrates significant impact and leadership across design disciplines, and the museum will expand public access to design through related talks and a major summer exhibition of its permanent collection.
The Guggenheim will spotlight Zinédine Zidane in a 90-minute, two-channel portrait.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum will spotlight the video installation “Zidane, a 21st Century Portrait” by Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, which premiered in 2006. Filmed during a Real Madrid vs. Villarreal La Liga match, the piece employed 17 synchronized cameras—focused solely on Zinédine Zidanefor the entire match—to create a dual-projection portrait that transforms the athletic performance into an immersive meditation.
Art historian Christophe Leribault has been appointed director of the Louvre.
The Louvre has appointed Christophe Leribault as its new director following the resignation of Laurence des Cars, who stepped down amid criticism over security failures and institutional turmoil. Leribault is an experienced museum leader and art historian who previously directed the Palace of Versailles, Musée d’Orsay, and Musée de l’Orangerie, and briefly served as a Louvre deputy; he was chosen by President Emmanuel Macron to restore stability and oversee key projects like the “Louvre New Renaissance” modernization plan aimed at enhancing security, infrastructure, and visitor experience.
Rolex’s watchmaking school is as selective as Harvard.
Rolex’s Watchmaking Training Center in Dallas—a tuition-free, 18-month program designed to address the shortage of professional watchmakers in the U.S.—attracted more than 560 applications for just 27 spots in its 2024 class. Established in 2023, the school trains students in Rolex design, components, and repair techniques, culminating in a final exam at Rolex headquarters in Geneva, after which graduates can become Rolex Certified Watchmakers—with potential earnings around $96,000 a year. With fewer than 2,000 qualified watchmakers in America despite Rolex now selling over a million watches annually, the program reflects both a renewed demand for skilled craft labor and the company’s effort to preserve technical expertise in an increasingly luxury-driven watch market.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Maria Grazia Chiuri just made her Fendi debut in Milan.
The time for statement stands at art fairs may have passed.
Veja and Magliano have collaborated on World Cup-worthy footwear.
Orlando Bloom has co-created a capsule collection with Porsche Design.
