“Soiled - Paul McCarthy’s early performance works (1971–76)”
Where: Wherever there’s wifi—this is an online exhibition, curated by André Lepicki for Brussels gallery Xavier Hufkens
When: Through February 2, 2025
What It Is: An edifying selection of more than a dozen streaming works by Paul McCarthy—some of them rarely seen—that show the Los Angeles artist establishing the key themes of his six decade practice.
Why It’s Worth a Look: Home for the holidays? Why not watch NSFW videos by performance art’s original Bad Santa? Here, in these often revolting video gems, McCarthy appears abject and embattled, a malfunctioning jester and patriarchal exile following his own absurd instructions on repeat. While he's most often mentioned alongside his male peers (such as Mike Kelley and Bruce Nauman), in these early works, the influence of CalArts feminists is particularly evident. Cross reference something like McCarthy’s dick-flapping performance Mother/Father, 1974, with Judy Chicago’s Cock & Cunt Play, 1972, and maybe you’ll see what I mean.
–Johanna Fateman, Co-Chief Art Critic
Independent Book Stores
Where: You probably already have a favorite near you. I’m recommending my favorites across three boroughs of New York.
What It Is: I’m recommending bookstores with great staff who offer great recs. ln Chelsea, near the galleries, I love 192 Books—small but excellent. In Brooklyn, Community Book Store in Park Slope and Unnameable Books in Prospect Heights are my go-tos. In Ridgewood, at Topos Too, I always take home a surprising find, often a face-out staff rec. And for art books, nothing beats Karma’s bookstore, and the manager Matthew Shuster is always helpful. (His recommendation for a great new art book: "The new Magdalena Suarez Frimkess book. She’s a nonagenarian Venezuelan artist who works primarily in ceramics." Not a book on my radar. Until now.) You can read Johanna Fateman and my art book recommendations here.
Why It’s Worth a Look: Books make great gifts, and the end of the year often includes slow moments and breaks from work that allow more time for reading. In recent conversations about what ails the art world, I’m hearing consensus about one solution: People need to read more! So read more great criticism (subscribe to the Critics’ Table). And more books!
-John Vincler, Co-Chief Art Critic
Diptyque x Lucy Sparrow's Limited-Edition Holiday Collection
Where: At just 40 Diptyque boutiques around the world
What It Is: At this month's CULTURED x Diptyque event, felt artist Lucy Sparrow carried, in one arm, a Moschino baguette bag and, in the other, Sebastian, the plush banana that she never leaves home without. I love this! Why, once I hit a certain age, did I stop carrying a soft and cozy stuffie wherever I go? A movie, a dinner with a friend, a holiday party... How much more fun could everything be, if I had always had a cuddly in the crook of my arm? Fortunately, Sparrow has crafted limited-edition felt creations for Diptyque—a cute star, a charming gingerbread cookie, and a bedazzled pine tree, plus a holiday stocking featuring all three characters—each one “carrying” a tiny Diptyque stuffie.
Why It's Worth a Look: The chance to hug a Lucy Sparrow cuddly that's hugging its own Lucy Sparrow cuddly? What holiday dreams are made of.
–Emily Dougherty, Beauty Editor
A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg
Where: An independent movie theater near you
When: In theaters now
What It Is: A Real Pain follows two cousins, David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin), on a Holocaust tour through Poland after the death of their grandmother. It's an odd-couple road-trip story with a healthy dose of neurosis and intergenerational trauma.
Why It’s Worth a Look: I can't think of another film I would recommend with equal enthusiasm to audiences as varied as my sister, my friends, and my stepdad. This movie manages to be both highly contained (its run time is a trim 90 minutes) and deeply informed by the sweeping history of the Jewish diaspora. I haven't seen a character quite like Culkin's Benji on screen before, but I immediately recognized him.
–Julia Halperin, Editor-at-Large
“Good Guy” by Julia Jacklin and Faye Webster
Where: Your preferred music streaming service
When: Your next commute to the office, walk around the neighborhood, or night spent dissociating in bed while listening to sad songs
What It Is: A 2019 track from superb lyricist Julia Jacklin now reimagined with an assist from Faye Webster. An ode to the sometimes crushing reality of one-night stands you would have been better off abstaining from. “I don't care for the truth when I'm lonely,” oozes Jacklin. “I don't care if you lie.”
Why It’s Worth a Look: Jacklin’s recounting of a too-comfortable relationship's slow death, “Don’t Know How To Keep Loving You,” has stayed on my most-listened-to playlists since its 2019 release. As such, Spotify just kicked this equally haunting new track onto my radar (thank you, algorithm) and both songs are well worth a listen. Julia, are you gearing up to a new album? What are you up to these days? Send me an email, I implore you.
–Sophie Lee, Associate Digital Editor
Dahomey, directed by Mati Diop
Where: Streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Mubi
When: Any one of these long, dark winter nights
What It Is: A few years ago, the dam broke in the movement to restitute art and artifacts plundered by colonial powers back to their countries of origin. This documentary takes viewers on a journey as 26 objects originally from the Kingdom of Dahomey are returned from Paris to modern-day Benin. The dreamy, imaginative film, by director Mati Diop, explores the many complex issues in the restitution debate, but it is far from conventionally told—one of the looted objects is a narrator in the story.
Why It’s Worth a Look: The film won the top prize at the Berlinale in February and was recently released in the U.S., already to 2025 Oscars buzz.
—Rachel Corbett, Contributing Editor
Submarine by the Marías
Where: All streaming platforms and the top of your next Spotify wrapped!
What It Is: Submarine is the second studio album by the Marías—an American indie-pop band alternating between English and Spanish influences. After finishing the tour of their previous album, Cinema, María Zardoya (lead vocalist) and Josh Conway (bassist, drummer, and producer) broke up romantically, sending the band into a six-month hiatus. Eventually, the band—which also includes Jesse Perlman and Edward James—decided to collectively go to therapy and use the emotional process of the breakup as fuel for their music. Subsequent studio sessions produced Submarine.
Why It’s Worth a Look: With the New Year approaching, it’s a great time to look back on 2024 and take stock on some of the year’s best albums… Submarine has earned its place as one of them for me. A modern-day Fleetwood Mac story with a bit more emotional awareness, the record is exciting, sad, and mellow, serving pop music highs alongside jazz percussion lows. It’s no surprise that Submarine appeals to a heterogeneous fan base and sounds so good, no matter the environment, given that the band cites influences as broad as Pedro Almodóvar, Sade, Tame Impala, and Billie Holiday.
– Cristina Macaya, Editorial Assistant
