Across the Americas, 2026 delivers major shows in the US and Brazil, moving between modern masters and urgent contemporary voices. Matisse, Raphael, and Duchamp mark pivotal historical shifts, while the Whitney Biennial, MASP’s ecology focused exhibition, and Taryn Simon’s Guggenheim project address social, political, and environmental pressure.
Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color at the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL | March 7 – June 1, 2026
After surgery left him unable to paint, Henri Matisse turned to cut paper, creating 20 works inspired by his memories and travels. These were published in 1947 as the stencil book Jazz, with text by Matisse. The Art Institute of Chicago is now exhibiting Jazz in full for the first time since acquiring it in 1948.
Histórias da Ecologia at Museu de Arte São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil | Until February 1, 2026
The São Paulo exhibition explores ecology as the relationship between nature and human society, featuring artists, activists, and social movements—mostly from the Global South—and highlights the need for global collaboration to address climate change.
Raphael: Sublime Poetry at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, NY | March 29 – June 28, 2026
Raphael, the Italian Renaissance master, is highlighted as one of history’s greatest artists in a major upcoming Met Museum retrospective featuring over 200 works, including famous pieces like The Alba Madonna alongside lesser-known loans from around the world.
Whitney Biennial 2026 at the Whitney Museum of American Art
New York, NY | March 8 – August 30, 2026
The 82nd Whitney Biennial presents work by 56 artists and collectives, offering an atmospheric snapshot of contemporary American art. Focusing on mood and relational themes—ranging from human and interspecies connections to technology and geopolitics—the exhibition reflects a time of transition and invites imaginative, unexpected forms of coexistence.
Taryn Simon at the Guggenheim Museum
New York, NY | September 18, 2026 – March 14, 2027
In September, the Guggenheim New York will debut a major new, immersive Rotunda-wide exhibition by Taryn Simon, featuring previously unseen photographs, texts, videos, and sculptures. Marking the U.S. 250th anniversary, the interactive installation invites visitors to navigate their own paths through Simon’s expansive narrative on hidden forces shaping society.
Marcel Duchamp at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
New York, NY | April 12 – August 22, 2026
Marcel Duchamp comes to mind when art is questioned. Over six decades, he radically redefined art by constantly reinventing himself and challenging ideas of authorship, form, and taste. Works like Nude Descending a Staircase, the readymade Fountain, and The Large Glass permanently changed how art is understood. This exhibition—the first major U.S. retrospective since 1973—brings together around 300 works and offers a rare chance to see the full scope of Duchamp’s groundbreaking influence.
