🔗 Share this article

From old masters and contemporary icons, contemporary greats and even a major Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as institutions throughout the United States have some dazzling exhibitions on the horizon for 2026.

Roy Lichtenstein

Announced all the way back in 2023, now just a placeholder listing on The Whitney’s website, this expansive survey of one of the pioneering figures of the pop art movement comes with significant anticipation. The institution will be drawing on its long-held holdings of close to 500 pieces from Lichtenstein, as well as, one would imagine, dozens loans from collections globally. TBD 2026.

Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice

Bay Area partner museums, the Legion of Honor along with deYoung, will be centering the Floating City with two linked shows: the former museum presents a celebration of the city as an engine of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years, and the latter zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the romantic city of canals. The artist felt intimidated by the prospect of painting Venice – a subject that had inspired the most revered artists for centuries – but he eventually rose to the task, creating some 37 paintings, among them the renowned work *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and 21 March-26 July.

Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, director Alejandro G Iñárritu revisits more than a million feet of footage that was left out of the final cut, crafting an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Accounts suggest Iñárritu dug deep into the archives to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of a cherished films. It's possible the exhibit will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film in spite of the hardship he also chronicles. 22 February-26 July.

Carol Bove

A major New York museum is dedicating the mixed media sculpture and installation creator a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and moving all the way up to a fresh collection of works made from found metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 60s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently takes her components directly from the city environment, creating fascinating and strange sculptures that have been displayed in prestigious venues. Having had major shows in Museum of Modern Art and a Parisian institution, Bove’s thirty years of creation are ripe for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August.

Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper

Anyone who know the book *The Body Keeps the Score* may recognize French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – this is actually one of 20 paper compositions that he combined with text and published as a volume titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, Chicago’s Art Institute exhibits the complete set of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition after the museum acquired the works in 1948 – plus around 50 of Matisse’s other works. The cut paper works were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer.

Raphael: Master of the Renaissance

The great artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino stood alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of the Italian Renaissance – yet he has rarely received a major show on American soil. A premier East Coast institution aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is well-known for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring works from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this is poised as a major event. Late March through June.

Shu Lea Cheang's *Lover Love*: An Interactive Vision

NYC’s queer art museum presents a significant and immersive video installation by Taiwanese-American artist and director Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with much of her work, Cheang in this piece explores the daily struggles of trans life. Lover Love is designed as a very engaging experience, with visitors invited to interact 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 will feature new work from this artist, who was forced to flee her home country of Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is recognized for deconstructing unconventional materials to make elaborate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights new work based on the concept of same-sex marriage. This continues her ongoing project of employing found items as a meaningful gesture of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027.

Taking Back Our Space: Body Language and Power

Building on the foundational research of west German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who analyzed how genders are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how body language shapes unconscious interaction. Wex’s research included art as old as 2000 BC. Here, Wex’s findings are both exhibited and juxtaposed with the work of modern diverse artists. Fall 2026 into 2027.

And more …

Early in the year, a Pacific Northwest institution showcases the haunting silhouette art of Samantha Yun Wall. Beginning 5 March, a prominent gallery is featuring the work of up and coming Black artist an innovative creator. During the summer, the Crystal Bridges Museum reexamines iconic pop artist Keith Haring through a show of his sculptural works. Come fall, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, an Arizona venue exhibits the vibrant work of artist Kim Chong Hak.