Katie Merz, a Brooklyn-based artist, has collaborated with home goods company Simplehuman on a capsule collection featuring her signature journalist art-form on sensor cans and soap dispensers. The collection will launch in a pop-up exhibition at 413 Bleecker Street in NYC this weekend, followed by an online release on May 2, 2025, through Simplehuman's online shop.
https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/design/introducing-the-katie-merz-x-simplehuman-capsule-collection/Minjae Kim, a Seoul-born artist and designer based in Brooklyn, is set to return to Los Angeles gallery Marta with his highly anticipated solo exhibition "Phantom-22" from April 19 to May 31. The show draws inspiration from the city's cultural references, including P-22, the mountain lion that lived in Griffith Park, and Buster Keaton's silent film One Week. Kim presents a series of works combining sculpture, set decoration, production design, and prop-making using materials like wood, paint, clay, plaster, aluminum, and fiberglass. The exhibition features sculptural representations of mountain lions and palm fronds, alongside faux facades and mock automobiles, blurring the lines between nature and city life.
https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/minjae-kim-returns-to-marta-gallery/Nesia's art pieces pay homage to the women who inspired him, particularly his mother, who was his biggest fan and supporter. The piece "October 24th 1947, 2025" is dedicated to her memory, while others like "It Was All A Dream" and "Skyscrapers" acknowledge other influential female figures in his life.
https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/charlie-nesi-homage/The Festival of Pirates' 8th edition will feature a diverse lineup including Gipsy Kings and Loredana, alongside Romanian artists Lupii lui Calancea, Mahala Rai Banda, Vița de Vie, Mihai Mărgineanu, ZMEI3, Jurjak, Corina Sîrghi & Toma Dimitriu Group, Cargo, Proconsul, White Mahala, and Ana Coman. The festival will also include a parastas at the Sulina cemetery on May 17 to honor Gheorghios Kontoguris, Romania's only known pirate, blending local traditions with cultural commemoration.
https://www.romania-insider.com/gipsy-kings-festival-pirates-romania-danube-delta-may-2025A new contemporary art space, designed by Renzo Piano, has finally opened in Istanbul after five years of construction. The museum is part of the city's efforts to boost its cultural scene ahead of key elections. Located in a historic building, it will feature works by local and international artists, including those from South Africa and Germany.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/04/28/two-new-art-centres-set-to-open-in-veniceThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its nominees for this year's induction ceremony. Notable artists include Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, The White Stripes, and Gary Clark Jr., who will be considered for their impact on music, career longevity, innovation, and excellence in style and technique. Lenny Waronker, a former head of Warner Bros. Records, is also being honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award for his influence on non-performing industry professionals. The ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall, with over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals voting on the nominees.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2025/04/28/chubby-checker-joe-cocker-and-cyndi-lauper-get-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fameThe Romanian Cultural Institute partners with the SoNoRo cultural platform to promote various cultural events and initiatives. The partnership includes the SoNoRo Festival, which showcases traditional music from Romania, as well as the scholarship and workshop program for young musicians. The institute also supports SoNoRo On Tour, a series of concerts in heritage buildings across Romania, and SoNoRo Arezzo, an event that celebrates Transylvanian culture. Additionally, the Romanian Cultural Institute collaborates with SoNoRo Conac, featuring summer concerts in historic venues, and SoNoRo Musikland, a festival dedicated to preserving Transylvania's cultural heritage.
https://www.romania-insider.com/sonoro-anniversary-tour-belgium-apr-2025SAG-AFTRA has introduced new provisions to protect performers' rights, including requiring consent for the use of performers' data in AI training and digital replicas, as well as informed consent before generating a performance using a digital replica. The union also aims to create a level playing field with generative AI by removing economic advantages to synthetic performers. Additionally, SAG-AFTRA has raised pension and health contribution rates, strengthened late fee penalties, and introduced new requirements for disability accommodations, per diems, and dancer lip-synch pay. Eligible members will have until May 21 to vote on ratification of the new contract.
https://deadline.com/2025/04/sag-aftra-commercials-contracts-deal-1236378468/Sarla Tated's event at World Art Dubai was attended by high-profile guests, including Yaqoob Al Ali, who accepted the invitation as Chief Guest, and dignitaries such as Asma Al Janahi, a leading UAE Government official, and Bijender Singh, Head of Chancery & Consul for India. Their presence acknowledged Tated's commitment to bridging generations and artistic styles, reflecting World Art Dubai's eclectic mix of contemporary, modern, and traditional art from various artists.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2025/04/28/from-betul-to-dubai-sarla-tateds-inspirational-life-in-art-and-service