1. Homes, Memories, Livelihoods: LA’s Artists on What They’ve Lost in the Fires
“When I got to my front door, it was gone.” This is how the artist Alec Egan described an experience that many thousands of Los Angelenos now share as wildfires devastated the city. Lost to the flames were homes, studios, archives, local landmarks, and any sense of the city as we have known it in recent years. Cultural histories—both widely celebrated and yet to be historicized—are now ash. Lost, too, are the small objects that make a life, a life: a painted and hand-sculpted crib, a guitar custom-made for an artist’s son when he was born, a Persian carpet passed down for generations. To offer individual perspectives on this collective upheaval, we asked a range of creatives to share their experiences, including the wave of support they've received from their communities, calls for resources, and anything else they want the rest of us to know about living through this moment.
2. Here Are the 17 Must-See New York Gallery Shows of the New Year
The start of new year also brings a deluge of new programming. With so many options available in the country's biggest city, it can be hard to know what is worth putting on the gallery-hopping must-see list. From George Condo's wild improvisations to Nicole Eisenman's large-scale reliefs, you don't want to miss these 17 excellent exhibitions.
3. Kelly Wearstler, Marco Zamora, Chloe Fineman, and More Predict What’s In and What’s Out For 2025
More than one birthday cake, crying in public, and ADHD—in. Point and shoots, hangovers, and CBD—out. 2025 has finally arrived, and the time has come for us to decide what we want to channel—and what we'd rather leave behind—in the new year. To help our readers brave this existential moment, the CULTURED team polled some of our chicest and sharpest friends in art, entertainment, fashion, and media to ask what they predict will be in—and out—in 2025. Their responses are brutally honest.
A tornado rendered in flowers. A roof blossoming with purple florets. A floral landscape flipped upside down. To call Sun-ah Shin a florist is a serious understatement. The product of hours of physical labor, her lyrical installations defy gravity and conceal complex technical infrastructures. Most recently, Shin has been working as a set designer for K-Pop music videos, creating stunning visual backdrops for the international superstars. She spoke to CULTURED about how she designs to conjure feelings, and what it’s like working with some of the Korean music scene's biggest names.
5. Here Are 9 Museum Shows You Shouldn't Miss in the First Half of 2025
This year promises to be an exciting one for art with exhibitions opening across the United States. There's “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” opening at the Met, of course. In Austin, “In Creative Harmony: Three Artistic Partnerships” promises a wonderful journey through the practice of three Mexican printmakers. And Rashid Johnson's "A Poem for Deep Thinkers” at the Guggenheim in New York cannot be missed.
6. What Are Some Actually Useful Self-Help Books to Try in the New Year?
As someone whose mother saddled her with, oh yes, the teen version of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People back in middle school, writer Delia Cai can attest to having a complicated relationship with self-help books. Depending on your situation, dear reader, these five books may not be your exact cup of tea. But our columnist can safely say that each one has changed the way she looks at herself and her relationship with the world (especially with the help of a therapist, who added additional context and guidance along the way).
7. Meet the Next Generation of British Gallerists You Need To Know
In the summer of 2021, London art critic Eddy Frankel inaugurated Oof, his new gallery, by appearing on the city’s six o’clock news with the legendary footballer Ledley King. Shortly after the broadcast, King—revered in football but a stranger to the art world—glanced at a pristine sculpture by French artist Laurent Perbos before booting it across the gallery floor with his famed right foot. Why were Frankel and King sharing airtime? Because Oof is at the forefront of a new generation of galleries—what some are calling the Young British Gallerists—that have reinvigorated London’s commercial art scene after the pandemic.
Chad Leat collects art the way he lives his life—with bold moves, sharp instincts, and a deep appreciation for meaningful connection. While his name may echo in finance circles, where he's built a storied career spanning 30 years on Wall Street with Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and other companies, it’s the walls of his homes that truly reveal his inner passions. In this conversation, Leat opens up about the piece in his home that never fails to provoke, why collecting isn’t just a Manhattan-based pursuit, and how a chance negotiation with American sculptor Tony Feher turned into a masterclass in art—and cocktails.
9. 7 Tips to Get Ahead in the Art Market in 2025
In 2024, the art market experienced a significant correction, marked by a decline in prices for emerging artists, the closure of numerous galleries, and the advent of a totally new political landscape. Against this backdrop, columnist Ralph DeLuca observed several new trends beginning to take shape. Here, find advice for keeping up with the changing art world in 2025.
Feeling stuck or overwhelmed by the fast pace of life? You're not alone. In a world that never stops moving, losing touch with creativity is easy. To help our readers unwind and unleash their creativity, the CULTURED team tapped some of the most inspired minds we know to share how they protect their peace. From grinding away with a mortar and pestle to hiding out in hyperbaric chambers, these creatives are not just making art—they’re making time.
