Artist Kelly Akashi, who lost her Altadena home in the Eaton Fire, debuts a 13-foot glass-brick chimney and a walkway titled Monument (Altadena) for the 2026 Whitney Biennial, turning a year of loss into a sculptural symbol of recovery and resilience.
This article highlights five notable art exhibitions at small galleries around the world in January 2026, featuring diverse works from artists Justus de Rode, Gwen Evans, Sera Holland, Morgan Lehman Gallery, and Francesco Pantaleone, showcasing themes from nature and domestic unsettling to textured abstraction and precarious sculptures.
The article highlights the top architectural and design achievements of 2025, including innovative museums, cultural centers, and public art, showcasing a blend of tradition and modernity across the globe.
Toshiko Takaezu, a renowned 20th-century American ceramic artist, weaves her entire body into her large-scale sculptures, exemplifying dedication and physical engagement in her art, as highlighted in a traveling retrospective.
Tuan Andrew Nguyen has been awarded the next High Line Plinth commission to create a 27-foot sandstone sculpture titled 'The Light That Shines Through the Universe,' which memorializes the Bamiyan Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, symbolizing peace and resilience, and will be installed in spring 2026 in New York.
Renowned American sculptor Richard Serra, known for his monumental abstract sculptures made primarily of steel, has passed away at the age of 85. Throughout his six-decade career, Serra's large-scale, site-specific creations reshaped public spaces and museum environments, inviting viewers to engage with their surroundings in new ways. His work, rooted in a deep understanding of the relationship between art, architecture, and the environment, earned him international acclaim and numerous prestigious awards. Serra's legacy as a master of large-scale sculpture will continue to influence the art world for years to come.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced its 2025 art commissions, featuring sculptures by artist Jeffrey Gibson and a roof garden installation by Jennie C. Jones. Gibson, known for infusing abstract works with queer and native themes, will create four weatherproof sculptures of ancestral spirit figures to adorn the museum's facade, translating delicate structures of beadwork, textiles, and paint. The sculptures will be on display from September 2025 through May 2026, offering a unique exploration of Indigenous heritage, abstraction, and popular cultures.
Carl Andre, a prominent figure in the Minimalist art movement, has passed away at the age of 88. Known for his sculptures made from industrial materials and his innovative approach to language, Andre's career spanned almost seventy years. Despite facing scrutiny and allegations related to the death of his partner, artist Ana Mendieta, Andre's work continues to be widely exhibited and celebrated. His minimalist sculptures, characterized by their unadorned appearance and unusual presentation style, have left a lasting impact on the art world.
Richard Hunt, a pioneering American sculptor known for his contributions to public art and the civil rights movement, has died at the age of 88. Hunt's career spanned nearly seven decades, during which he broke barriers with his abstract metal sculptures. He was the first African-American visual artist appointed to the National Council on the Arts and the first Black sculptor to have a retrospective exhibition at MoMA. Hunt's works are featured in over 100 public museums globally, and he recently completed preliminary work on a monument to Emmett Till. His legacy includes numerous awards, honorary degrees, and professorships, and his sculpture for the Obama Presidential Center will serve as an enduring reminder of his remarkable talent.
A one-of-a-kind home in Concord, Ohio, resembling "The Flintstones" cave house, is on the market for $400,000. The 3,597-square-foot property, known as "Chant du Cygne," was commissioned in 1970 and is the largest sculpture created by renowned artist Wayne Trapp. With five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a wood-burning fireplace, and a two-car garage, the house sits on over an acre of land. The unique design and organic handmade walls offer a constantly changing living experience. The listing agent suggests potential buyers could use the property for both residential and creative purposes, such as short-term rentals or an immersion space.
New York City has unveiled a bronze sculpture in Union Square Park depicting the urban legend of alligators in the city's sewers. Designed by Swedish artist Alexander Klingspor, the life-size sculpture features a gator wrapped around a manhole cover. Titled "N.Y.C Legend," the artwork will be on display until June 2024. The sculpture pays tribute to the city and explores the themes of myths, legends, and the impact of invasive species. Alligators are illegal to own in New York, but occasional sightings occur, with the most recent being an escaped pet found in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.
Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, known for his monumental sculptures made from recycled materials, is showcasing his latest work, "Behind the Red Moon," at Tate Modern in London. Anatsui's sculptures, made from aluminum bottle caps linked with copper wire, defy categorization and have been praised for their scale, sensuousness, and craftsmanship. His artwork explores themes of colonial trade and empire, while also highlighting the beauty and potential of recycled materials. Anatsui's work has had a significant impact on the African contemporary art market, and his pieces can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars.
One House Bakery in Benicia, California, has created an impressive bread sculpture of a Clicker, an infected enemy from the popular video game franchise The Last of Us. Crafted by a mother-daughter duo, the sculpture took over 400 hours to complete and features intricate details, including mushrooms formed by popping balloons wrapped in dough. The sculpture was made for an annual scarecrow contest in the city, where local businesses showcase their creations. The irony lies in the fact that the sculpture is made of bread, as the game's storyline reveals that the cordyceps infection started due to contaminated flour.
A proposed AIDS memorial sculpture in Palm Springs is causing controversy due to its abstract design and perceived inappropriate connotations. The nine-foot-tall sculpture, intended to honor those who lost their lives to HIV and AIDS, features concentric carved circles symbolizing the impact of AIDS on the community. Concerns have been raised about its abstract nature and resemblance to certain body parts. The privately funded memorial is expected to cost around $500,000 and is planned for installation in Downtown Park. The Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Task Force has promised to incorporate community feedback and revise the design.
Renowned sculptor Martin Puryear has unveiled his latest work, "Lookout," at the Storm King Art Center. The domed brick structure, inspired by the ancient technique of Nubian vaulting, features 90 openings and is Puryear's first piece in brick. The sculpture reflects his consistent art production over his 50-year career and is imbued with references to African American history and culture. Puryear's goal with "Lookout" was to create something for its own sake, embracing the pure possibilities of delight and pleasure in art.