From Renaissance masters to pop artists, contemporary greats alongside a major Mexican film-maker, galleries and galleries throughout the United States have a series of dazzling shows coming up in 2026.
The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein
First revealed several years ago during 2023, now just a mostly empty page on a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The institution plans to utilize its decades-old collection of close to 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, numerous loans from collections globally. Dates to be announced 2026.
Venetian Visions: From Old Masters to Monet
Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue along with another, will be centering the Floating City with two interconnected exhibitions: one location presents a exploration of the city as a source of high art throughout the centuries, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist was daunted by the challenge of painting Venice – a theme that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating some 37 canvases, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. Winter through Summer and Spring into Summer.
Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu
Marking the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits over a million feet of footage that was left out into the released movie, creating an immersive experience that doubles as a love letter to celluloid. Reportedly Iñárritu dug deep into the vaults to create what he called “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. Perhaps the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. Late Winter through Summer.
Carol Bove
A major New York museum will give the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, starting with her initial pieces and progressing all the way up to a fresh collection of works made from scrap metal and steel tubing. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove often takes her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have been displayed in some of the country’s most notable venues. Having had significant exhibitions at the MoMA and a Parisian institution, her three decades of creation are ready for a in-depth survey. 5 March–2 August.
Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color
Those familiar with a certain publication *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s cut-out *Icarus* – this is in fact one of 20 paper compositions that he paired with text and published as a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum will display all 20 of Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum acquired the works in 1948 – as well as around 50 of Matisse’s other works. These creations were part of a prolific final chapter for Matisse. 7 March-1 June.
Raphael: Master of the Renaissance
Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a major show on US soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this massive exhibition. Raphael is famous for masterpieces like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. With loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a major event. Late March through June.
Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision
A New York queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a major figure in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of trans life. The installation is designed as a highly interactive experience, with visitors encouraged to play around with the multiple movable screens that display the central film. Spring 2026 through early 2027.
Leilah Babirye: Reclamation and Defiance
A Boston contemporary art center showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her home country of Uganda when her identity was revealed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for deconstructing discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed sculptures. The show showcases recent pieces based on the theme of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of resistance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.
Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power
Expanding upon the foundational research of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are socialized to use physical space differently, this show investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as ancient sculptures. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are both exhibited and put into conversation with the work of modern diverse artists. 20 September–Spring 2027.
And more …
In February, a Pacific Northwest institution celebrates the haunting silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of rising artist an innovative creator. In the summer months, an Arkansas museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a selection of the artist's architecture paintings. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.
