May 2026 Art Diary: Venice Biennale Pavilions, Hilma af Klint, and More
The Art Diary for May 2026 showcases a range of exhibitions. At the Venice Biennale, the Holy See Pavilion presents 'The Ear is the Eye of the Soul,' featuring 24 artists influenced by Hildegard of Bingen. The Nordic Countries Pavilion, curated by Anna Mustonen, offers 'How Many Angels Can Dance on the Head of a Pin?' Richard Kenton Webb's 'PASSION & ENGLISH ICONOCLASM' delves into the lost visual heritage of the medieval period. Hilma af Klint's 'The Temple Paintings' represents her inaugural major solo exhibition in France. Additional shows include Helaine Blumenfeld at Gainsborough's House, Barnaby Barford at David Gill Gallery, and Michael Petry's 'The 365 Project' at Vorres Museum. Olivia Plender's 'Little Fennel's Complaint' investigates the history of women's healthcare, while Godfried Donkor's 'It's a Numbers Game' marks his first institutional exhibition in the UK.
Key facts
- Holy See Pavilion at Venice Biennale titled 'The Ear is the Eye of the Soul', curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers, produced with Soundwalk Collective.
- Nordic Countries Pavilion exhibition 'How Many Angels Can Dance on the Head of a Pin?' curated by Anna Mustonen, featuring Klara Kristalova, Benjamin Orlow, Tori Wrånes.
- Richard Kenton Webb exhibition 'PASSION & ENGLISH ICONOCLASM' at Benjamin Rhodes Arts, 30 April – 26 June 2026.
- Hilma af Klint 'The Temple Paintings' at Grand Palais and Centre Pompidou, 6 May – 30 August 2026, first major solo show in France.
- Helaine Blumenfeld 'Tree of Life' at Gainsborough's House, 3 May 2025 – 11 October 2026.
- Barnaby Barford 'We Are Where We Are' at David Gill Gallery, 1–30 May 2026, marks 20 years with the gallery.
- Michael Petry 'The 365 Project' at Vorres Museum, Athens, 2 May – 30 June 2026.
- Paula Rego 'Visions of English Literature' at Newlands House, 22 May – 6 September 2026.
- Olivia Plender 'Little Fennel's Complaint' at Modern Art Oxford, 23 May – 16 August 2026.
- Michael Armitage 'The Promise of Change' at Palazzo Grassi, Venice, 29 March – 10 January 2027.
- Godfried Donkor 'It's a Numbers Game' at Firstsite, 23 May – 30 August 2026.
- 'Survivors' photographs by Danielle van Zedelhoff at Fitzrovia Chapel, 9–12 June 2026.
- Andrew Durbin book 'The Wonderful World That Almost Was' about Paul Thek and Peter Hujar.
- 'Comrades in Art: Artists Against Fascism' at Towner Eastbourne, 7 May – 18 October 2026, on Artists International Association.
Entities
Artists
- Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Ben Vickers
- Soundwalk Collective
- Hildegard of Bingen
- Alexander Kluge
- Sister Maura Zátonyi OSB
- Ilda David
- Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
- Klara Kristalova
- Benjamin Orlow
- Tori Wrånes
- Anna Mustonen
- Richard Kenton Webb
- Hilma af Klint
- Helaine Blumenfeld
- Barnaby Barford
- Michael Petry
- Paula Rego
- Olivia Plender
- Michael Armitage
- Godfried Donkor
- Danielle van Zedelhoff
- Paul Thek
- Peter Hujar
- Andrew Durbin
- Misha Black
- Clifford Rowe
- Pearl Binder
- Peggy Angus
- James Boswell
- James Fitton
- Margaret Fitton
- James Holland
- Percy Horton
- Peter Laszlo Peri
- Betty Rea
- Nan Youngman
- Ithell Colquhoun
- Dame Laura Knight
- Paul Nash
- Lucien Pissarro
- James K. A. Smith
- Hugh Adlington
- Emily Cash
- Koyo Kouoh
- Ossip Zadkine
- Thomas Gainsborough
- Michael Rosenthal
- Ann Wilson
- Paul Coleman
- Susan Sontag
- Andy Warhol
- Fran Lebowitz
- John Waters
- David Wojnarowicz
- Heinrich Kramer
- Richard Napier
Institutions
- Holy See Pavilion
- Venice Biennale
- Soundwalk Collective
- Academy of Saint Hildegard
- Eibingen Abbey
- Tatiana Bilbao Estudio
- Nordic Countries Pavilion
- Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
- Benjamin Rhodes Arts
- Grand Palais
- Centre Pompidou
- Gainsborough's House
- David Gill Gallery
- Vorres Museum
- Newlands House
- Modern Art Oxford
- Bodleian Library
- Oxford Botanic Garden
- John Radcliffe Hospital
- Palazzo Grassi
- Pinault Collection
- Firstsite
- Fitzrovia Chapel
- National HIV Story Trust
- Towner Eastbourne
- Artists International Association
- People's History Museum
- Hayward Gallery Touring
- Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm
- Theosophical Society
- École de la Grande Chaumière
- Columbia University
- Artlyst
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardino Mistico dei Carmelitani Scalzi
- Cannaregio
- Complesso di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice
- Castello
- Paris
- France
- Athens
- Greece
- Colchester
- United Kingdom
- Eastbourne
- Coral Gables
- Florida
- United States
- Miami
- New York
- Sicily
- Palermo
- Capuchin Catacombs
- Stockholm
- Sweden
- Los Angeles
- Kenya
- Indonesia
- Uganda
- West Africa
- Caribbean
- Britain
- Europe
Sources
- Artlyst —