Activist Art: How Art Turns Voices Into Collective Action

Ralph Gibson American Gothic, 2009, activist art photograph

At Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art, Turn the Volume Up! explores how activist art can transform individual expression into collective action. Bringing together photography, sculpture, painting, prints, installation, and archival material, the exhibition examines protest, civic participation, historical memory, resistance, and the struggle to be heard.

Yayoi Kusama Dies at 97: The Artist Who Made Infinity Visible

Yayoi Kusama dies at 97: Yayoi Kusama with Yellow Tree / Living Room at the Aichi Triennale, 2010

Yayoi Kusama dies at 97, marking the end of a groundbreaking seven-decade career that made her one of the world’s most recognizable contemporary artists. Known for her iconic polka dots, infinity rooms, and immersive installations, Yayoi Kusama made lasting contributions to painting, sculpture, performance, fashion, and literature. Her influential career crossed artistic boundaries and inspired millions of people worldwide, cementing her legacy as a pioneering figure in modern and contemporary art.

Sarah Cunningham: Midnight Sun at Nottingham Contemporary

British Abstract Artist Sarah Cunningham in her studio with some of her paintings. Sarah Cunningham: Midnight Sun-

Nottingham Contemporary will host Sarah Cunningham: Midnight Sun, a major exhibition exploring imagined landscapes, abstraction, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Bringing together previously unseen paintings, the exhibition traces Cunningham’s movement from recognizable landscapes towards speculative and dreamlike worlds.

Switzerland Returns Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in Major Cultural Restitution Move

Switzerland Returns Benin Bronzes to Nigeria: An altar fragment depicting a Benin woman dressed in traditional regalia, wearing an elaborately decorated hat, holding a ceremonial staff, adorned with coral beads around her neck and heavy ivory anklets.

The return of 23 cultural artifacts from Switzerland marks another milestone in the global effort to restore African heritage. The repatriation reflects growing international recognition that cultural treasures taken during colonial rule should be returned to their countries of origin. As more museums and institutions embrace restitution, these returns are reshaping conversations about history, identity, and cultural justice across Africa and beyond.