Amy Sherald Speaks Out on Cancelling Her Smithsonian Show

Aug 27, 2025

Amy Sherald, the painter most widely known for her portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, detailed her decision to withdraw her exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) amid concerns over censorship at the institution in a new...

The Artist Freeing Museums’ Captive Instruments

Aug 27, 2025

Satch Hoyt (undated) (photo by and courtesy Gabriel Schimmeroth) HAMBURG, Germany — “Ok, stop the cameras,” the head conservator commanded from the belly of the storage department. “I want to hear what these instruments sound like without Satch wearing the...

An Ancient Roman Guide to Trump’s Authoritarian Playbook 

Aug 27, 2025

Authoritarianism is on the rise across the globe, including in the United States. In April 2025, NPR reported that in a survey of over 500 political scientists, the majority believed that the United States was moving from a liberal democracy toward authoritarianism....

Skawennati’s Cyberpunk Future Is Now

Aug 27, 2025

OTTAWA — I first encountered multidisciplinary artist Skawennati in person at her December 2019 talk at the former McLuhan Centre for Communication and Technology in Toronto. I recall that the artist wore Barbie-doll pink; I later learned that she is a Barbie...

US Parks Agency Fires Ranger Who Displayed Trans Pride Flag in Yosemite

Aug 27, 2025

As the Trump administration ramps up efforts to erase LGBTQ+ voices and communities of color from the historical narrative, Yosemite National Park has terminated the employment of a park ranger after they displayed a transgender pride flag on a landmark rock formation...

New York Area Show to See Right Now 

Aug 27, 2025

As the summer winds down and the season of art fairs and openings approaches, you might assume that the entire art world is on vacation right now. Don’t make the mistake of taking your own vacation from art just yet — there’s still plenty to see. For starters, visit...

Mastery

Aug 27, 2025

CALL FOR HELPHelp us Promote Human Artists and Push Back Against AIPlease support artists and help us get more exposure for the artists featured in this newsletter by clicking the “Like” icon ❤️, by clicking the “Restack” icon...

Yuji Agematsu Arranges Street Debris into Tiny Daily Sculptures

Aug 26, 2025

Each day, Yuji Agematsu takes a walk for the explicit purpose of scouring the streets. The dried leaf, lost toy, and even the wad of gum discarded on a park bench are his treasures, which he retrieves and places in the clear cellophane that wraps a pack of cigarettes....