North America Art Exhibitions

Spring 2026

Across North America this season, major institutions are balancing historical reassessment with politically engaged contemporary practice. Museums revisit the legacy of modern and post-war art through focused exhibitions on figures such as Henri Matisse, Elizabeth Murray and Rembrandt van Rijn, while large-scale projects like the Whitney Biennial 2026 continue to frame the broader landscape of contemporary production. At the same time, artists including Arthur Jafa, Cecilia Vicuña and Firelei Báez foreground questions of identity, history and cultural memory through installation, film and multimedia practice. Together these exhibitions reflect a North American ecosystem where museums anchor historical narratives while galleries and contemporary institutions advance politically and culturally engaged work, with major programming concentrated in key cultural centres such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Featured Exhibitions

The Season’s Essentials. Six exhibitions that reveal how the canon is being built, challenged, and rewritten across North America.

A white sculpture of a horse with multiple human hands protruding from its head, appearing to point outward. The sculpture is partially attached to wooden poles and ropes, set against a modern interior backdrop.

Whitney Biennial 2026

Whitney Museum, New York, USA

8 March – 23 August 2026

Price: TBC

Abstract sculpture made of rusted metal pieces with a bright orange ribbon draped around it.

Carol Bove: Career Survey

Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA

5 March – 2 August 2026

Price: TBC

A minimalist paper cutout art piece featuring a black silhouette of a dancing figure against a blue background, surrounded by yellow star-like shapes and a small red circle.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, USA

7 March – 1 June 2026

Price: TBC

Text graphic featuring the words 'FILM INSTALLATION', 'SUEÑO PERRO', and 'ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU' on a textured background.

Sueño Perro: Alejandro G. Iñárritu

LACMA, Los Angeles, USA

October 10, 2025 – February 8, 2026

Price: TBC

A dense, abstract depiction of green foliage with swirling forms, highlighting various shades of green and hints of brown in a forest-like setting.

That Green Ideal: Emily Carr

Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, USA

6 February – 8 November 2026

Price: TBC

A portrait of a man in historical clothing, featuring a dark background and warm tones, with the subject confidently posing with one hand on his hip.

Painted Presence: Rembrandt and his Peers

National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada

Until 4 October, 2026

Price: TBC

On the Radar

The Watch List. More high-calibre shows for those looking to dive deeper into this season’s landscape.

Close-up portrait of a woman with dark hair, pale skin, and light eyebrows, set against a black background.

Arthur Jafa: The White Album

Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, USA

14 March – 30 August 2026

Price: TBC

Cecilia Vicuña: Quipu Gut

PAMM, Miami, USA

29 August 2024 – 29 August 2026

Price: Free Entry

A blue square pedestal with small lights arranged along its perimeter, set in a spacious indoor environment.

Felix Gonzalez-Torres: “Untitled” Go-Go Dancing Platform

Hauser & Wirth, New York, USA

Price: TBC

A futuristic yellow car with neon accents is partially hidden in tall grass, illuminated by sunlight. The car's door is open, revealing a humanoid robot inside.

Lawrence Lek

The Bass (Nox Pavillion), Miami, USA

19 November 2025–26 April 2026

Price: Free entry

An abstract artwork featuring fragmented colourful shapes in shades of green, pink, orange, and black, arranged in a dynamic composition.

Elizabeth Murray: Painter’s Progress

MoMA, New York, USA

November 6, 2025 — March 16, 2026

Price: $

Abstract painting featuring a dynamic mix of vibrant colours including blue, orange, purple, and black, with fluid brushstrokes and splashes that create a sense of movement and energy.

Firelei Báez

MCA Chicago, Chicago, USA

15 November 2025 – 31 May 2026

Price: TBC

An art gallery featuring sculptures in various colors and styles, set against a vibrant red wall. In the foreground, a pyramid display holds smaller sculptures, while larger pieces are positioned around the space. A person walks through the gallery.

Woody De Othello: coming forth by day

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Miami, USA

13 November 2025 – 28 June 2026

Price: TBC

A large abstract painting featuring three horizontal color fields: a white top band, a red middle band, and a dark brown bottom band, set against a black background.

Moments in Modernism

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Toronto, Canada

June 18, 2024 -April 26, 2026

Price: TBC

A soft, abstract portrait of a person with light skin and blonde hair, looking over their shoulder with a thoughtful expression. The background features muted colours, predominantly grey and a hint of yellow.

Seeing Silence: Helene Schjerfbeck

The Met, New York, USA

5 December 2025 – 5 April 2026

Price: TBC

An abstract painting featuring surreal figures and landscapes with a dominant red background, incorporating elements of nature and buildings.

Qiu Xiaofei: The Theater of Wither and Thrive

Hauser & Wirth, New York, USA

12 Feb – 18 April 2026

Price: TBC

A large abstract painting featuring three horizontal color fields: a white top band, a red middle band, and a dark brown bottom band, set against a black background.

Roy Lichtenstein: Painting with Scattered Brushstrokes

Gagosian, New York, USA

19 March – 25 April 2026

Price: TBC

Three male divers in pink swimsuits are mid-air, performing a synchronized dive into a swimming pool, captured in a dramatic indoor setting.

Collective Visions: Celebrating 25 Years of Photography

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Toronto, Canada

7 Nov 2025 – 6 May 2026

Price: TBC

This selection is updated on a rolling basis as exhibitions open and close across the region.