The Week in Art

From breaking news and insider insights to exhibitions and events around the world, the team at The Art Newspaper picks apart the art world’s big stories with the help of special guests. An award-winning podcast hosted by Ben Luke.

Venice Biennale Special 2026—podcast

In this week's special Venice Biennale episode, Ben Luke reviews In Minor Keys along with Louisa Buck and Jane Morris, interviews artists Gabrielle Goliath and Lubaina Himid and meets writer Saidiya Hartman. Digital editor Alexander Morrison hears about a collateral event by Belarus Free Theatre, and Ben Luke learns about the restoration of two paintings by Tintoretto.

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Alexander Morrison

Zurbarán in London, the Carnegie International, Walter Sickert’s Ennui—podcast

In this week's episode, Ben Luke takes a tour of the Zurbarán survey at the National Gallery in London, speaks to the director of the Carnegie Museum of Art ahead of this year's Carnegie International in Pittsburgh, and learns about a Walter Sickert painting on view at Charleston in Sussex.

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Alexander Morrison

Chernobyl 40 years on, Paula Rego at Munch in Oslo, Gluck’s flower painting—podcast

In this week's episode, Ben Luke discusses an exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, learns about Paula Rego's interest in Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch, and explores a floral still life by Gluck featured in a new group exhibition at Kettle's Yard in Cambridge.

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Alexander Morrison

Museum openings: V&A East and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Plus, William Blake in Dublin—podcast

In this week's episode, Ben Luke gets a sneak peak of London's new V&A East Museum, speaks to California-based correspondent Jori Finkel about the new home of Lacma's collection, and learns about a work by William Blake on show at the National Gallery of Ireland

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Alexander Morrison

Marcel Duchamp at MoMA, Dorothea Tanning book, Leonora Carrington at the Freud Museum, London—podcast

In this Surrealism-themed episode, Ben Luke discusses the first major US survey of Marcel Duchamp in half a century, Alyce Mahon’s new book on Dorothea Tanning, and a painting by Leonora Carrington

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Alexander Morrison
Raphaelpodcast

Should English museums charge tourists? Plus, Raphael at the Met and Senga Nengudi at the Whitechapel Gallery—podcast

In this week's episode, Ben Luke discusses the UK government’s response to a report about the future of Arts Council England, talks to the curator of a new Raphael exhibition in New York, and takes a look at a work by the multimedia artist Senga Nengudi

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David. Clack and Alexander Morrison

Matisse’s explosive finale and a new chapter for Hong Kong? Plus, Schiaparelli and Dalí—podcast

In this week's episode, Ben Luke talks to the curator of a landmark new Matisse exhibition in Paris, discusses the art market in Hong Kong with our chief contributing editor Gareth Harris, and takes a closer look at a Dali painting that inspired Elsa Schiaparelli, as a show devoted to the designer opens at London's V&A

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David. Clack and Alexander Morrison

New Museum extension opens, NextGen collectors, a Wardian Case in Oxford – podcast

In this week's episode of The Week in Art, Ben Luke discusses the newly-enlarged New Museum, talks to Georgina Adam about her new book on the latest generation of art collectors, and hears from the curator of a new exhibition on botany at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David. Clack and Alexander Morrison
Conflictpodcast

War in the Middle East, the Whitney Biennial, and a newly-discovered Rembrandt in Amsterdam—podcast

Ben Luke talks to The Art Newspaper's Melissa Gronlund about the outbreak of war in a region that has invested heavily in arts and culture, while Ben Sutton discusses the 82nd Whitney Biennial in New York. Plus, a newly-discovered Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum.

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Alexander Morrison

Venice Biennale details revealed, Beatriz González and Tracey Emin in London—podcast

Ben Luke speaks to Jane Morris about the 2026 Biennale artists and framework, takes a tour of the late González's show at the Barbican. Plus, a conversation about a long-hidden Emin work

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Alexander Morrison

London National Gallery’s deficit bombshell, Simon Schama on birds and art, Vilhelm Hammershøi—podcast

In this week’s episode, Ben Luke heard about surprise cuts at the National Gallery, a new exhibition at the Mauritshuis, and the Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi

Art Basel Qatar, Dürer portrait debate, Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edvard Munch—podcast

Ben Luke talks to art market editor Kabir Jhala about the inaugural fair in Doha, explores the debate surrounding a painting of Dürer’s father, and we hear about the synergies between two 20th-century painters

Hosted by Ben Luke and Alexander Morrison. Produced by David Clack

African LGBTQ+ art at the Smithsonian, the Iran crisis, Louise Nevelson at Pompidou Metz—podcast

Ben Luke hears about ‘Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art’ at the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C, discusses the cultural impact of a brutal crackdown in Iran and takes a look at a landmark 1958 installation by Louise Nevelson

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Alexander Morrison and David Clack

Hawai’i at the British Museum, a Venice palazzo for sale, Joseph Beuys’s ‘Bathtub’—podcast

Ben Luke hears about the British Museum’s fresh approach to the stewardship of its collection of Hawaiian objects, discusses the eerie history of Ca’ Dario and learns more about a late Beuys work

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Alexander Morrison and David Clack

The Year Ahead 2026: the big exhibitions and the key museum openings—podcast

From the opening of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi to Marcel Duchamp at MoMA, New York, The Art Newspaper's editors look ahead to next year's biggest stories

The art world in 2025: our review of the biggest stories and shows—podcast

From the Los Angeles wildfires to Trump’s policies on culture and heritage, The Art Newspaper's editors analyse the year's biggest stories

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Aimee Dawson, Philippa Kelly and David Clack

Frank Gehry remembered, Serpentine and FLAG Art Foundation prize, Joan Semmel—podcast

Ben Luke talks to the architecture critic and Gehry biographer Paul Goldberger, to the FLAG Art Foundation's founder and to Rebecca Shaykin, curator at New York's Jewish Museum

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Aimee Dawson, Philippa Kelly and David. Clack

Art Basel Miami Beach, Louvre crisis deepens, Helene Schjerfbeck—podcast

The Art Newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Americas and art market editor discuss the top sales and the wider mood in Miami, Ben Luke gets the latest on the ground in Paris and hears from curator Dita Amory on Scherfbeck’s ‘The Tapestry’

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Aimee Dawson, Philippa Kelly and David. Clack

The US Venice Biennale saga, Queer Islamic art in Oslo, Duane Linklater in Ottawa—podcast

Ben Luke speaks to The Art Newspaper’s editor-in-chief in the Americas, Ben Sutton, about the selection of Alma Allen for the US pavilion, explores a new exhibition on queerness in Islamic art and meets curators from Canada's National Gallery

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Aimee Dawson, Philippa Kelly and David. Clack

The $236m Klimt, Cop 30 and the art world, Caravaggio’s Victorious Cupid—podcast

Ben Luke speaks to The Art Newspaper’s senior art market editor in the Americas, Carlie Porterfield, about this week’s auctions, discusses the climate emergency with Louisa Buck and chats to the director of the Wallace Collection

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Philippa Kelly and David Clack

MFA Boston returns work by enslaved artist David Drake to his heirs, Wifredo Lam, Ghirlandaio’s Adoration of the Magi—podcast

Ben Luke discusses the landmark agreement with a curator at the Boston museum, meets the team behind MoMA's new Lam show, and explores a new book on the children of the Renaissance

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Philippa Kelly and David Clack

Gauguin ‘fake’ is real, Mrinalini Mukherjee and her circle, Franz Xaver Messerschmidt’s head piece—podcast

Ben Luke discusses the Gauguin saga with special correspondent Martin Bailey, and meets the curators of new shows in London and Vienna

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Philippa Kelly and David Clack

Louvre heist: the fallout, RoseLee Goldberg on the Performa Biennial, Wayne McGregor on his new installation—podcast

Ben Luke analyses the political impact of the headline-grabbing theft, explores Goldberg's updated classic book, and discusses the acclaimed choreographer's work ahead of his latest exhibition at Somerset House

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Philippa Kelly and David Clack

Frieze in London, Hypha Studios and a Renoir drawing for ‘The Great Bathers’—podcast

Ben Luke discusses the mood at Frieze with The Art Newspaper's art market editor, Kabir Jhala, explores the parallel art world that exists for unrepresented artists and catches up with the curator of a new Renoir show in New York

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Philippa Kelly and David Clack

Nigerian Modernism, Tehran’s art scene after the war, Wayne Thiebaud’s ‘Cake’—podcast

Alexander Morrison visits Tate Modern to meet curator Osei Bonsu, while Ben Luke discusses Tehran's art market with correspondent Sarvy Geranpayeh and explores Wayne Thiebaud's new exhibition at The Courtauld

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Philippa Kelly and David Clack

Who made ancient Egyptian art? Plus, Michaelina Wautier, Robert Rauschenberg’s ‘Bed’—podcast

Alexander Morrison visits the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, while Ben Luke meets curators from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, and the Museum Ludwig in Cologne

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Philippa Kelly and David Clack

Museums and ethics, Fra Angelico in Florence, Cornelia Parker’s PsychoBarn—podcast

Unpacking the issues facing cultural institutions today, plus chats about a Renaissance blockbuster and a ”cut-up” architectural installation in Basel

Kerry James Marshall, National Gallery expansion, Picasso’s Three Dancers—podcast

Ben Luke takes a tour of Kerry James Marshall's critically acclaimed Royal Academy show and meets the curators behind Tate Modern's ‘Theatre Picasso’, and Alexander Morrison discusses the National Gallery's expansion with its director

David Bowie Centre, Bukhara Biennial, Hilton Als on Jean Rhys, Hurvin Anderson and Kara Walker—podcast

Ben Luke steps inside the V&A East's latest addition, discusses the Bukhara biennial with our art market editor, and explores a new exhibition at Michael Werner Gallery

Smithsonian under fire from Trump, Frieze Seoul, Dara Birnbaum and Quantum—podcast

The Art Newspaper's editor-in-chief in the Americas discusses the Trump administration’s interference in museums, we take an inside look at the season's first art fair and discuss landmark video art