🔗 Share this article Must-See American Gallery Shows Arriving in 2026 From old masters to contemporary icons, modern visionaries and even a renowned Mexican film-maker, galleries as well as institutions throughout the United States have a series of dazzling shows coming up for 2026. The Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein Announced all the way back during 2023, and currently just a mostly empty page at a major museum's online schedule, this expansive survey of a central creators of the pop art movement comes with significant expectations. The museum will be drawing on its decades-old holdings of nearly 500 pieces by Lichtenstein, in addition to, presumably, dozens borrowed works from institutions globally. Dates to be announced 2026. Drawn to Venice and Monet and Venice Bay Area sister institutions, one prestigious venue and deYoung, will focus on Venice with two interconnected exhibitions: the former museum will offer a exploration of the city as a source of high art for hundreds of years, while the other zooms in on what impressionist Claude Monet thought of the enchanting city of canals. Monet himself was daunted by the challenge of depicting Venice – a subject that had captivated the world’s most esteemed artists for centuries – yet he ultimately met the challenge, creating approximately 37 paintings, including the masterpiece *The Grand Canal*. 6 January-2 August and Spring into Summer. Sueño Perro: a film installation by Alejandro G Iñárritu A visual from this artistic project. Credit: Artist's Archive Marking the 25th anniversary of his massive debut film, *Amores Perros*, filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu returns to more than a million feet of film that was left out into the released movie, creating an art installation that doubles as a homage to film. Reportedly the director delved into the vaults to create what he described as “not a tribute, but a resurrection” of one of his most beloved films. It's possible the installation will instil a sense of optimism that pervades Iñárritu’s film despite the hardship he simultaneously documents. Late Winter through Summer. The Sculptural World of Carol Bove The Guggenheim is dedicating the multidisciplinary sculptor artist a comprehensive retrospective, beginning with her early works and progressing all the way up to a fresh collection of works fashioned from scrap metal and industrial materials. Drawing from “the 1960s” and Minimalist art, Bove frequently sources her components directly from the urban landscape, producing intriguing and unusual sculptures that have appeared in prestigious venues. Having had significant exhibitions at the MoMA and the Palais de Tokyo, her three decades of work are ready for a thorough survey. 5 March–2 August. Henri Matisse's *Jazz*: A Symphony of Cut Paper Henri Matisse - A composition from *Jazz*, 1947. Image Source: Museum Collection Those familiar with the book *The Body Keeps the Score* will be familiar with French master Henri Matisse’s papercut *Icarus* – it’s actually one of 20 cut-paper works that he paired with text and bound into a book titled *Jazz* in 1947. This spring, a Midwestern museum exhibits all 20 of Matisse’s preparatory models – an unprecedented exhibition since the museum obtained the works in 1948 – as well as some 50 additional pieces by the artist. These creations were part of a late stage flowering for Matisse. March through early Summer. Raphael: Master of the Renaissance Italian master artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is ranked with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as the renowned titans of Renaissance Italy – but he has rarely been honored with a large-scale exhibition on US soil. New York’s Metropolitan Museum aims to rectify that with this landmark show. Raphael is famous for iconic works like his *Sistine Madonna* and *The School of Athens*. Featuring loans from all across Europe and over 200 works in all, this promises to be a blockbuster show. 29 March–28 June. Shu Lea Cheang: Lover Love An artistic creation by the artist. Credit: Gallery A New York Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art will host a significant and immersive video installation by transmedia artist and film-maker Shu Lea Cheang, a prominent voice in new media art. In keeping with most of her work, Cheang in this piece investigates the everyday realities of trans life. The installation promises to be a highly interactive experience, with audience members encouraged to interact with the multiple movable screens that show the core footage. Spring 2026 through early 2027. Leilah Babirye The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston showcases recent creations from this artist, who was compelled to leave her native Uganda after being outed as a lesbian in 2015. Babirye is known for transforming discarded objects to make intricate, LGBTQ+-themed assemblages. This exhibition highlights recent pieces based on the theme of queer weddings. This continues her ongoing project of using found items as a symbolic act of defiance. Late Summer 2026 into early 2027. Taking Back Our Space Study from the artist's influential project. Courtesy: Collection Building on the pioneering work of German feminist photographer Marianne Wex, who studied how men and women are conditioned to inhabit space differently, this exhibition investigates how non-verbal communication influences unconscious interaction. Wex’s research spanned art as old as 2000 BC. In this presentation, Wex’s explorations are displayed and juxtaposed with the work of modern Black, queer, and feminist artists. Fall 2026 into 2027. Additional Highlights for 2026 Early in the year, the Seattle Art Museum showcases the evocative silhouette art of an emerging artist. Starting 5 March, a prominent gallery is highlighting the work of up and coming Black artist Kwamé Azure Gomez. During the summer, an Arkansas museum reexamines 80s graffiti artist Keith Haring with a show of his three-dimensional works. In September, a Michigan museum presents a collection of the artist's architectural studies. And also in September, the Phoenix Art Museum exhibits the colorful work of South Korean painter Kim Chong Hak.