Amoako Boafo, the 40-year-old Ghanaian painter, is on the brink of unveiling his first London exhibition, "I Do Not Come to You by Chance," at the prestigious Gagosian gallery. This showcase of his latest figurative paintings is a testament to his rapid rise in the art world, marked by his distinctive style that combines fingertip-painting with intricate patterns and bold colors. Boafo's work, which often features joyful and empowering portrayals of Black men and women, has garnered international acclaim and set new auction records.

As the LGBTQ+ community prepares to celebrate Newcastle Pride 2025 and the city's first-ever Pride Fringe Festival, three remarkable artists have been selected to showcase their work, bringing the theme of "Unapologetically Visible" to life. Sculptor Lady Kitt and fashion designers Christopher Niari and Sam Barley have each received a £2,500 development grant to create impactful and thought-provoking pieces that reflect the resilience and vibrancy of the queer community.

In the digital age, where art is often created with the swipe of a finger or the click of a mouse, Keira Rathbone stands out as an artist who embraces the tactile and nostalgic charm of the typewriter. Rathbone, who has been creating typewriter art for over two decades, will be showcasing her unique talent at Falmouth Library on 10 May. There, she will be doing live drawings, offering visitors the opportunity to walk away with a personalized piece of art that captures their essence in a matter of minutes.

In the intricate dance of international diplomacy, few gestures carry as much weight as the exchange of gifts between world leaders. In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented US President Donald Trump with a mysterious and highly symbolic gift: a portrait of Trump himself. This painting, delivered by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, was described as a "beautiful portrait" by a "leading Russian artist." Trump, according to Witkoff, was "clearly touched by it." However, the portrait itself remained shrouded in secrecy until recently, when the artist behind the Kremlin-commissioned artwork revealed it to the public.

Forty years after the pivotal 1984-1985 miners' strike, the legacy of this historic event continues to resonate deeply within the communities of County Durham. A new exhibition, "Going Back Brockens: Monuments and Rhetoric After the Miners' Strike," offers a poignant exploration of the lasting impact of the strike on the region's landscape and people. Through a three-part display of paintings, sound installations, and community archives, the exhibition delves into the complex emotions of loss, transformation, and resilience that have shaped the post-strike era.

In the heart of Bristol, a powerful and poignant performance is set to unfold at the Bristol Old Vic, where Tom Marshman, a 51-year-old performer, will share his personal journey and the collective experiences of the queer community through his show "Section 28 and Me." This performance is not just a recounting of history; it is a heartfelt exploration of identity, visibility, and the lasting impact of legislation that sought to silence a community.

Nestled in the heart of Salisbury, the ancient and awe-inspiring Salisbury Cathedral has once again opened its doors to a spectacular display of floral artistry. This time, it is the Spirit of Water Flower Festival that graces its halls, bringing together over 30,000 flowers in a breathtaking array of designs. The cathedral, with its rich history and architectural splendor, provides the perfect backdrop for this celebration of nature's beauty and the elemental power of water.

In the realm of art exhibitions, a new wave of immersive experiences is captivating audiences by blending traditional portraiture with cutting-edge technology. The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in London has taken this trend to new heights with "Stories Brought to Life," an innovative exhibition that uses digital versions of portraits from its collection, animated graphics, and voiceovers to tell the stories of 19 British icons. From historical figures like Winston Churchill and Charles Darwin to contemporary celebrities like Amy Winehouse and Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa, this exhibition offers a unique and engaging way to explore the lives and legacies of these influential individuals.

Alicia Vikander, the acclaimed Swedish actress known for her captivating performances in films such as "Tomb Raider," "Ex Machina," and the Oscar-winning "The Danish Girl," is set to make a significant return to the stage after a 17-year hiatus. This return marks not only her reentry into the world of theater but also her UK stage debut, as she takes on the lead role in a new West End production of Henrik Ibsen's "The Lady from the Sea." Vikander, who has spent much of her career in the limelight of Hollywood, is now preparing to step into the more intimate and demanding arena of live theater.

In the pantheon of art history, the Pre-Raphaelite movement is often dominated by names like William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Sir John Everett Millais. Yet, amidst these luminaries, Evelyn De Morgan stands as a pioneering figure whose work, though lesser-known, offers profound insights into the trauma and meaning of war, and prefigures the fantastical elements of contemporary art. Her paintings, characterized by their visionary and energetic tableaux, are now gaining belated acclaim, thanks to a new exhibition at London's Guildhall Art Gallery.

In the realm of contemporary art and culture, few names evoke as much curiosity and controversy as MSCHF. Since its inception in 2016, this Brooklyn-based art collective has consistently pushed the boundaries of what art can be, often blurring the lines between performance, design, and internet trolling. With a penchant for provocative "drops" that captivate and confound, MSCHF has carved out a unique space in the art world, one that defies easy categorization.

In the annals of art history, the rediscovery of a lost masterpiece is a rare and exhilarating event. Such is the case with an early painting by the renowned Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, which has resurfaced after being thought lost since the 1930s. The portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona, a representative of the Ga people in West Africa (present-day Ghana), was painted in 1897 and depicts the prince in profile against loose brushstrokes of florals. This small yet significant portrait, measuring just over 2 feet tall, is now on display at the art fair TEFAF Maastricht in the Netherlands, with a price tag of €15 million (approximately $16.3 million).

On the occasion of William Shakespeare’s 461st birthday, Sotheby’s auction house announced a sale that has sent ripples of excitement through the literary world. A set of the first four editions of Shakespeare’s collected works is expected to fetch up to £4.5 million ($6 million) at auction next month. This rare collection, comprising the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Folios, has not been offered as a single lot at auction since 1989, making this an event of extraordinary significance.

In the world of art, where masterpieces are often celebrated and meticulously preserved, the story of a lost Andy Warhol silkscreen print serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of cultural heritage. The print, depicting the Netherlands’ then-Queen Beatrix in Warhol’s iconic pop art style, was accidentally disposed of as “bulky waste” during a reorganization at the Maashorst municipality town hall. This incident, though seemingly isolated, highlights the broader challenges faced by institutions in safeguarding valuable artworks.

In the shadowy world of art crime, where masterpieces are stolen and forgeries are crafted with painstaking precision, the work of the FBI’s Art Crime Team is nothing short of heroic. At the heart of this elite unit is Ronnie Walker, a founding member whose career as an undercover investigator reads like the plot of a high-stakes thriller. Walker’s journey into the realm of art crime began with a challenge that would test his skills and instincts: winning the trust of convicted burglar Jerry Christy.

In the hallowed halls of art museums, where masterpieces by the world's greatest artists are carefully preserved and displayed, the delicate balance between accessibility and preservation is constantly being tested. This balance was starkly highlighted when a huge painting by Mark Rothko, valued at tens of millions of dollars, was recently damaged by a visiting child at a Dutch museum. The incident at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam has sparked a broader conversation about the challenges museums face in protecting priceless artworks while remaining open to the public, especially young visitors.

There is something undeniably disorienting and yet profoundly captivating about entering a building only to be greeted by another one inside it. This peculiar sensation greets visitors as they arrive on the second floor of London’s prestigious Tate Modern art gallery. Directly in front of the entryway is a 1:1 scale facsimile of Do Ho Suh’s childhood home in Seoul, meticulously wrapped in mulberry paper and carefully traced in graphite to produce an intricate rubbing of the exterior. This installation is just one of many versions of home envisioned by the Korean artist over the past 30 years. Running at Tate Modern through to October, “Walk the House” is Suh’s largest solo institutional show to date in the UK, where he has been based since 2016.

In the realm where art, technology, and nature converge, few names shine as brightly as teamLab. This pioneering art collective, renowned for its boundary-pushing installations, has once again redefined the sensory experience with the opening of its latest multi-sensory museum in the United Arab Emirates. Nestled in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, teamLab Phenomena stands as a testament to the collective’s innovative spirit and its unwavering commitment to reimagining the way we interact with art.

In the grand tapestry of British history, few traditions are as enduring and iconic as the coronation portrait. This venerable custom, stretching back over four centuries, has long served as a visual testament to the majesty and authority of the British monarchy. On Tuesday, the official coronation portraits of King Charles and Queen Camilla were unveiled to the public, marking a significant moment in the continuation of this storied tradition. These portraits, which will be displayed at London’s National Gallery for a month before finding their permanent home in Buckingham Palace, are more than mere images; they are a bridge connecting the present to the past, a visual dialogue with history.

The contemporary art world has been plunged into a profound sense of loss with the untimely passing of Koyo Kouoh, a visionary curator whose impact on the global art scene was as monumental as it was transformative. Her life and career were a testament to the power of art as a force for social change, a beacon of inspiration for countless artists, curators, and scholars around the world.