Contemporary Art

Dream America (2015) by Violette Bule, a conceptual artist who worked in the service industry

How Artists' Day Jobs Shape Their Craft

A new exhibition examines the generative relationship between work and creativity

Edward Brooke-Hitching's The Madman Gallery spotlights such artworks as John Singer Sargent's Portrait of Madame X, a statue of Glycon and Franz Xaver Messerschmidt's Character Heads.

The Most Enigmatic Works in Art History

A new book highlights 100 artistic curiosities, from the nude "Mona Lisa" to portraits of a dog-headed saint

"The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist" premieres Friday, March 3 at 9 p.m. ET on MTV, and on the Smithsonian Channel Tuesday, March 7 at 9 p.m.

Behind the Scenes of the New Reality Series, ‘The Exhibit’

Seven artists compete for a $100,000 purse and an exhibition at the Hirshhorn in this ground-breaking show airing on the Smithsonian Channel

Ukraine has released stamps featuring a Banksy mural, which depicts a child defeating a Putin-like figure in a judo match.

Ukraine Releases Banksy Postage Stamp on War's One-Year Anniversary

The street artist painted the image on a demolished wall during his secret trip to the country last fall

Michel Bernardaud and artist Jeff Koons with one of the editions of "Balloon Dog (Blue)"

Visitor Accidentally Shatters $42,000 Jeff Koons Sculpture at Art Fair

Collectors are now interested in buying the pieces of "Balloon Dog (Blue)"

The new Banksy mural titled Valentine's Day Mascara on the side of a building in Margate, England

Banksy Unveils 'Valentine's Day Mascara,' a Statement on Domestic Violence

After removing parts of the artwork for safety, town officials quickly returned them to the site

At the Natural History Museum, "Cellphone: Unseen Connections" opens June 23; at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City, "Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols" goes on view May 13; and "Ay-Ō's Happy Rainbow Hell" is part of the National Museum of Asian Art's centennial exhibitions, opening March 25.

Twenty-Three Smithsonian Shows to See in 2023

A rare Bible, George Clinton's colorful wig, Disney World history and Japanese ghosts debut this year

The Collaboration, which stars Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope, makes its Broadway debut.

'The Collaboration' Brings Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat to Broadway

Starring Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope, the production explores two art icons' complex relationship

Banksy painted the mural on a wall in the Ukranian town of Hostomel.

Thieves Tried to Cut Banksy Mural From a Wall in War-Torn Ukrainian Town

The mural, located outside Kyiv, depicts a woman in a bathrobe and a gas mask

The mural was painted on the side of a building damaged by Russian airstrikes. 

Banksy Reveals Seven Murals Throughout War-Torn Ukraine

The news comes amid speculation about the anonymous graffiti artist's whereabouts

Rhea L. Combs (left) and Ava DuVernay (right) share a laugh in front of DuVernay’s portrait during the National Portrait Gallery's 2022 Portrait of a Nation Gala on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

See Stunning Portraits of Ava DuVernay, José Andrés and the Williams Sisters

The National Portrait Gallery's 2022 Portrait of a Nation Award honors seven changemakers, from Anthony Fauci to Clive Davis

Basquiat lived and worked at 57 Great Jones Street until his death in 1988. 

You Can Rent Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Apartment and Art Studio—For $60,000

The artist rented the space from Andy Warhol between 1983 and 1988

In Barjac this past June, Kiefer stood before a 2001 artwork, Eridanus, named after a constellation that is itself named after a mythical river.

The Artwork That Took 30 Years and 200 Acres to Create

Renowned artist Anselm Kiefer goes big with his massive installation in southern France

The poster for "Habibi, Love's Revolutions" features art by Alireza Shojaian.

How 23 Artists Explore Queerness in the Arab World

"Habibi, Love's Revolutions" reflects on LGBTQ experiences and identities

Red, Green, and Blue Twisted Curves, 1979. The “spectator who looks at my work is part of the work itself,” Riley has said.

A New Exhibit Showcases the Mind-Bending Art of Bridget Riley

Six decades after she arrived on the scene, the British artist still makes waves

Damien Hirst with pieces from “The Currency”

Artist Damien Hirst Will Burn Thousands of Paintings in NFT Experiment

A year-long project is pitting traditional paintings against non-fungible tokens

FBI agents loading Basquiat paintings into vehicles at the Orlando Museum of Art

FBI Seizes 25 Basquiat Paintings Off a Florida Museum’s Walls

Federal agents are investigating the origin of the works, which were on display at the Orlando Museum of Art

More than 450 pieces made by Met staff members are on display in this year’s exhibition.

At This Once-Secret Exhibition, the Met's Security Guards and Staff Display Their Own Art

For the first time since 1935, the show is finally open to the public

Museum visitors admire a Pablo Picasso portrait of Dora Maar.

Meet the Muses Who Inspired Some of the World's Most Iconic Artworks

A new book examines the lives of muses across history and the role they played in shaping treasured works like "The Kiss" and "Ophelia"

In a screenshot from a short video posted to Instagram, performance artist Pepx Romero licks a work of ancient art at Mexico City's Museo Nacional de Antropología. 

Why Did This Artist Lock Lips With Ancient Works of Indigenous Mexican Art?

Pepx Romero kissed and licked centuries-old archaeological wonders to raise awareness of the ongoing, contested sale of pre-Hispanic treasures

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