Aiza Ahmed Exposes the Fragile Theater Behind the Male Gaze
With caricatured men, fragile authority figures and dreamy mise-en-scènes, she undertakes a diagnostic exploration of power, performance and identity.
Where to Dine in Malibu, From Coastal Classics to New Arrivals
Malibu’s restaurant landscape, mapped.
The Met’s ‘I Puritani’ and the Tension Between Historical Realism and Operatic Fantasy
The English Civil War provides obstacles to Bellini’s lovers, but instead of amping up the drama, the additional history knocks it off-kilter.
Art
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From Surrealism to Séances: The Art World’s Spiritual Turn
A spate of 2025 shows points to wider institutional interest not only in art that engages mystical or occult frameworks but also in rereading art history through a more spiritually charged lens.
In Jeffrey Gibson’s “An Indigenous Present,” Native Art Beyond Representationalism
The show’s cross-generational pairings surface the institutional separations that kept Native artists from forming the kinds of networks modernism took for granted.
How a Small Uruguayan Town Became a Seasonal Hub for Latin American Art
Beyond the draw of Este Arte, parallel exhibitions and festivals have expanded José Ignacio’s role in the region’s cultural calendar.
At 93, Joan Semmel Continues to Assert the Female Gaze
Rather than shrink from the canvas, the artist is still pushing back on prevailing prejudices, and her work today is as confrontational as ever.
Christie’s Bets Big on the New Memorabilia Economy With the Jim Irsay Collection
A growing cohort of crossover collectors now treats music, sports and film memorabilia as alternative assets, reshaping auction dynamics as they buy and sell with the same intensity once reserved for fine art.
Lifestyle
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The Luxurious Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her That Rise Above the Clichés
A tightly edited lineup of gifts for when roses and chocolates feel beside the point.
How Nathan Cornwell Is Putting Chiswick on London’s Culinary Map
At The Silver Birch, a serious tasting menu is quietly making diners rethink London geography.
The Best Fashion Moments From the 2026 Golden Globes Red Carpet
From couture gowns to confident menswear, the Golden Globes set the tone for awards season style.
For the Sober-Curious, America’s Zero-Proof Bars Deliver
Across the U.S., zero-proof bars are turning moderation into a social scene.
At Chin Up Bar, Gin Is the Star of the Show
The Lower East Side bar channels gin’s modern craft boom into a tightly edited cocktail program.
Culture
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Beth Morrison On Reshaping the Boundaries of Contemporary Opera
“There’s a lot of amazing work being done here that people should feel good about. We’re just trying to create a conversation about what opera can be in the 21st Century.”
As ‘Stranger Things’ Ends, Streaming Giants Scramble for Their Next Tentpoles
As Stranger Things exits, a handful of mega-series are left carrying the economics and identity of the streaming business.
Will Arnett and Andra Day On Midlife Reckonings and Movies Without Villains
According to Arnett, his character’s breakthrough in ‘Is This Thing On?’ has nothing to do with comedy and everything to do with finding his voice.
How Kay Matschullat’s MAX Is Rewriting the Language of Performance in the Age of Techno Art
In her transdisciplinary Media Art Xploration series, science provides the data that art transforms into sensory and emotional experiences.
The Best Documentaries of 2025
It was a year of riches—theatrically, on streaming and awaiting distribution.
Business
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Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Reveals the Simple Secret of Her Successful Turnaround
Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Fran Horowitz explains how listening closely to customers, clarifying brand identities and making small product changes helped fuel a multiyear sales and stock rebound.
Nuclear Fusion Energy’s Long Promised Future Starts to Look Commercially Real
Fusion energy startups are drawing billions as rising A.I.-driven power demand pushes the technology closer to commercial reality.
How the World’s Top Companies Use Experimentation to Outlearn Uncertainty
Paul Sloane, a longtime authority on innovation and lateral thinking, examines how companies such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Amazon and Google use experimentation to thrive in unpredictable markets. Sloane argues that disciplined experimentation—not certainty or prediction—has become the defining leadership skill for navigating volatility and unlocking unexpected solutions.
In an A.I.-Driven World, Storytelling Is Becoming Leadership’s Most Critical Skill
Zoë Arden, a fellow at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and author of Story-Centred Leadership, examines why storytelling is rapidly becoming one of the most critical leadership skills as organizations move toward 2026. Arden argues that in an era shaped by A.I.-driven communication, hybrid work and growing trust deficits, leaders who can create meaning through narrative will be best positioned to build credibility, align stakeholders and guide organizations through uncertainty.
Lead Poisoning Isn’t a Mystery. It’s a Policy Failure
Communications strategist Olga González examines why childhood lead poisoning remains one of the United States’ most preventable public health crises. Drawing on data from the CDC, insights from environmental justice leaders, and real-world enforcement failures from New York to Flint, González reveals how infrastructure neglect, regulatory gaps and political indifference continue to place hundreds of thousands of children at risk each year, despite decades of clear evidence and viable solutions.
Art Market
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Art Fairs at a Turning Point: Why Galleries Can’t Afford to Go—but Can’t Afford to Stop
After decades of unchecked expansion, economic realities are forcing fairs to become more selective, more regional and more accountable.
Sotheby’s First Live Auction of American Whiskey at the Breuer Could Set New Category Highs
Rare spirits is one of the best-performing luxury collectible categories, having proven especially effective at attracting audiences beyond fine arts enthusiasts.
At the LA Art Show, Galleries Push Past Familiar Boundaries
The fair, now in its 31st edition, continues to blur boundaries between art, entertainment and celebrity.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Fractionalized Art Ownership
In late 2025, billionaire Thomas Kaplan said he was considering fractionalizing the world-renowned Leiden Collection and launching it as an IPO.
Observer’s 2025 Art Market Recap: Recovery After a Year of Recalibration
On the cusp of 2026, optimism is returning to the art world, tempered by a growing recognition that its next chapter will demand structural reinvention.
Art Reviews
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Trains of Thought: Yunghun Yoo’s Paintings of Connection and Parting at 839 Gallery
With gestural vigor, the artist renders the slowgoing transfers, the phantom platforms, the eastward abyss, the detours to nowhere towns and the long, circuitous routes that must pass through Union Station tracks like blood through coronary arteries.
Venezuela Built a Cultural Powerhouse—And Its Art World Refuses to Disappear
Caracas was once the cultural capital of Latin America; today, artists, dealers and diasporic galleries are keeping art in Venezuela alive amid crisis and exile.
One Fine Show: ‘Manet & Morisot’ at the Legion of Honor
The exhibition invites viewers to look past old binaries of muse and master and toward a more reciprocal artistic exchange.
I AM THAT ‘EYE AM’: Mark Ryden’s Whimsy and Wonder at Perrotin Los Angeles
This kitschmeister, lowbrow luminary and indisputable Pop Surrealism pioneer has become something of a cultural touchstone over the course of his decades-long career.
At London’s Kew Gardens, the Dark Side of Botany
“Flora Indica” and “The Singh Twins: Botanical Tales and Seeds of Empire” confront the imperial roots of its botanical collections and challenge long-held perceptions of scientific neutrality.
Luxury Travel
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Where to Have a Serene Spa Day in L.A.
From underground hammams to bluff-top ocean retreats, these L.A. spas are built for real relaxation—not performative wellness.
The Most Exciting U.S. Hotel Openings Coming in 2026
These are the U.S. hotel openings shaping the next wave of American travel, from revivals of faded icons to bold debuts in unlikely markets.
The Most Anticipated International Hotel Openings of 2026
These upcoming hotel trade generic “five-star” gloss for hyper-local design and a serious sense of place.
California’s Top Hotel Openings of 2025
Whether you’re looking for a modern bay-side stay in Newport Beach or a wine country escape in Healdsburg, these are California’s best hotel openings of 2025.
The Most Ambitious Hotels to Open Around the World in 2025
This year’s boldest new hotels are portals to experiences you’ll bore your friends talking about for decades.
Nightlife & Dining
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Where to Find the Best Booze-Free Drinks in Los Angeles
From swanky cocktail bars to one of the city’s coolest sushi restaurants, we’ve rounded up the best places for a mocktail in Los Angeles.
The Guest House Opens in Scottsdale as RDM Hospitality Ramps Up Expansion
The scene-driven steakhouse brings its tableside theatrics and nightlife energy to Arizona.
13 Winter Drinking and Dining Pop-Ups Worth Seeking Out Across New York City
These pop-ups trade novelty for atmosphere, giving winter dining and drinking a longer shelf life.
Bergen’s Real Draw: Come for the Fjords, Stay for the Food
Norway’s vibrant coastal city offers far more than just pretty views.
Care and Craft: Inside the Making of Seoul’s Cocktail Culture
Inside Seoul’s cocktail culture, where hospitality matters as much as the drink.
Style
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Jet Set: What to Pack for a Winter Weekend Getaway
From a lush cashmere turtleneck and fashion-meets-function knee-high boots to a shearling tote and mixed-media down jacket, here’s what to pack for a winter weekend getaway.
The Best Red Carpet Looks at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards
Hollywood’s first major awards show of the year delivers its opening fashion statements, from calculated glamour to early-season risks.
Things We Loved This Month: December’s Bright Spots
From shearling clogs and holiday sugar highs to a Hawaiian reset and a very good bottle of Napa cab, one editor’s end-of-year comforts and small indulgences.
The Best Men’s Winter Jackets For Real Life, Not Just the Lookbook
From sharp wool overcoats to serious down puffers, these winter jackets are designed to stay comfortable indoors and out—without looking like a walking sleeping bag.
The Best Base Layers for Guys Who Hate Being Cold
These are the first-on pieces that actually keep you warm, dry and ready to take on the coldest of winter days.
Theater
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REDCAT’s 22nd NOW Festival Showcased the Breadth of L.A.’s Performance Art Scene
Performance art has a distinct urgency in Los Angeles, a city that is in a perpetual state of rehearsal.
Old French Bores: Molière Is Blasphemed in This Tin-Eared ‘Tartuffe’
What a misguided affair from such an accomplished team.
Review: Michelle Williams Navigates Choppy Waters in ‘Anna Christie’
This production leans heavily on Williams to humanize a century-old script whose language can feel insistently blunt.
Elia Arce’s ‘No Time to Mourn (An Excerpt)’ Is a Monument to Grief
The piece’s enculturation rests on a certainty in its own semiotics—a stalwart belief that no matter the audience, grieving should be collective, not singular.
Review: ‘Marjorie Prime’ Tracks the Ghost in the Machine of Artificial Intelligence
As humans are periodically replaced by eager and curious Primes, the audience tumbles headlong into the uncanny valley.
Opera
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The Met’s Crowd-Pleasing ‘Andrea Chénier’ Is Marred By Miscast Lovers
The opera house’s current revival, its first in nearly a dozen years, features an attractive, HD-ready cast that only sporadically rises to the occasion.
Amid Governmental Interference, Opera at the Kennedy Center is Flourishing—for the Moment
In times of crisis, the art form remains a powerful medium for connection.
Opera Traditionalists Will Adore the Met’s Opulent 1980s ‘Arabella’
Sopranos Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Louise Alder find their “Right Ones” in Strauss’s winning comedy.
Bartlett Sher On Theater as a Catalyst for Change
Known for his politically attuned revivals, the director once again uses the stage to question art’s power in moments of moral and social crisis.
Doubt, Faith and the Creative Odyssey Behind Sarah Kirkland Snider’s “HILDEGARD”
Produced in collaboration with Beth Morrison and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer, the work bridges sacred tradition and modern experimentation.
Dance
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Observer’s Guide to the Best Dance Coming to New York City This Winter
The coming months are jam-packed with fascinating festivals, classical ballets and international performances.
Isaac Mizrahi On the Enduring Charm of “Peter & the Wolf”
“We love reactions from children. I mean, children just say things. In the times when you can actually hear a pin drop, some kid will scream out, ‘No, don’t do it!’ It’s the greatest thing in the world,” he told Observer.
Hans van Manen Remembers Photographer Erwin Olaf
“The last time I saw him, he had so many ideas—some serious and some scandalous—and he shared them from his hospital bed. It was deeply moving,” he told Observer.
Why Hofesh Shechter’s ‘Theatre of Dreams’ Is Such a Surreal Escape
The work pushes audiences into a world where choreography, sound and light blur the boundaries between conscious experience and the subconscious.
Fall at Paul Taylor Dance Company: ADHD, Love and Jazz
For the first time in its 71-year history, the Company has two resident choreographers, both presenting world premieres.
Tech
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As Chinese Tech Retreats From CES, Lenovo Claims Center Stage at the Vegas Sphere
As Chinese tech retreats from CES, Lenovo doubled down, staging Tech World at the Sphere to flex its A.I. ambitions and U.S. marketing muscle.
Why A.I. Creates the Illusion of Courage—and the Risk of Reputational Ruin
Christopher O.H. Williams, a former Fortune 500 executive and board director with leadership experience spanning Nike, Adidas, Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers, examines why A.I. will expose the absence of judgment that many roles have long concealed. Williams argues that as technology accelerates action, human courage must be redefined not as speed or confidence, but as deliberation, accountability and ownership.
Lisa Su Shows Off AMD’s High-End Chips Designed for A.I.’s ‘Yotta-Scale’ Future
At CES 2026, Lisa Su argues that the next phase of A.I. will be defined by massive gains in computing power, not new models.
Jensen Huang Shakes Vegas With Nvidia’s Physical A.I. Vision at CES
At a packed CES keynote, Jensen Huang laid out Nvidia’s vision for physical A.I., from world models to self-driving cars.
LEGO’s ‘Smart Brick’ Gives Its Plastic Bricks the Power to See, Hear and Feel
Debuting at CES, LEGO’s Smart Brick blends physical toys with subtle tech to create a more responsive play world.
Finance
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McKinsey Chief Is Looking for These 3 Skills in the A.I. Era
McKinsey’s top leader says leadership, judgment and creativity—not pedigree—will define consulting careers in the A.I. era.
Michael Burry’s Big Bets Still Move Markets—Even When He’s Wrong
Fame, fear and finance collide as Michael Burry’s influence endures long after his biggest win.
Meet the 14 Billionaire Families and Individuals Who Joined the Giving Pledge in 2025
A new group of wealthy donors, including the founders of Moderna and Canva, are promising away their fortunes by joining the Giving Pledge.
MacKenzie Scott Gave Away $7.2B in 2025—Here’s Who Benefited Most
From HBCUs to climate action, MacKenzie Scott’s 2025 giving reflects a fast-growing, no-strings approach to philanthropy.
Clare McAndrew On Why the Art Market’s Future Lies Beyond the $10 Million Sale
In this Q&A, Arts Economics founder Clare McAndrew explains why confidence is the art market’s most valuable currency, how generational and geographic shifts are redistributing power and why the next phase of growth will depend on transparency, diversification and redefining what counts as “art” in an expanding global economy.
Media
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Creators Are the New Entrepreneurs—and Hollywood Is Catching Up
At CES 2026, media and tech leaders explain how creators are disrupting Hollywood and driving reshaping the talent pipeline.
The Most Important Media Deals of Q4 2025: Apple, Netflix, Meta, Disney
Streaming, AI, sports, and news drove a wave of major media deals in late 2025. Here’s what companies like Disney and Apple are betting on.
When Philanthropy Loses Trust, Design Becomes Civic Infrastructure
Jessie McGuire, managing partner at Thought Matter, examines philanthropy’s growing crisis of public trust, arguing that transparency alone is no longer enough. McGuire argues that philanthropy must rethink design as a form of civic infrastructure, one that makes power visible, redistributes authorship and restores legitimacy in an era of deep skepticism.
Remembering the Founder of The New York Observer
Arthur Carter was devoted to quality, and he cared more about writers than their editorial opinions.
Why California’s Future as a Creative Capital Depends on Commercial Production
Darren Foldes, Emmy-winning producer and partner at the commercial production company Sibling Rivalry, examines why California’s decision to expand tax credits for film and television while excluding commercial production represents a critical gap in the state’s creative strategy. Foldes argues that commercial advertising is a fast-moving economic engine that employs thousands of Californians, and that without targeted incentives, the state risks losing a foundational part of its creative ecosystem to competing markets.
Power Lists
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2025 Nightlife & Dining Power Index
Humanity is still the most vital ingredient in hospitality, and that isn’t changing anytime soon.
Observer’s 2025 Art Power Index: The Art Market’s Most Influential People
Their acquisitions, affinities and approbations move the needle on valuation and redefine how art is made, shown and sold.
100 Leaders Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence
They write the script that the rest of us follow.
Latest
All Latest
Amid Culture War Funding Cuts, Can Artist Foundations Save the Day?
As public support for artists collapses, private foundations are emerging as lifelines.
How Philanthropy Is Reshaping the Global Art Ecosystem
Gilles de Greling, Palm Beach Director of Gander & White, analyzes how philanthropy has evolved from episodic generosity into a foundational pillar of the contemporary art ecosystem. He traces how auctions, museums and new institutions are increasingly reliant on collaborative philanthropic models to sustain education, community engagement and long-term cultural impact.
Curator Juliane Bischoff On Remaining Attentive to the Conditions of the Present
“Portikus offers a rare degree of freedom—to test new ideas, to take risks and to unsettle established formats,” she told Observer.
Observer’s January Art Fair Calendar
Our guide to January’s best art fairs will help you put together the perfect art itinerary.
Kenny Rivero’s “Ash on Everything” Views Crises Through a Lens of Ritual and Renewal
Over time, he has developed an original symbolic lexicon that remains untouched by trends or the conventions of traditional figurative painting.
The Sixth Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foregrounds Human Experience
Here, the human body is understood as the only filter, site of encounter and witness to temporality as we confront the present world.
Observer’s Curators to Watch in 2026
Their work extends beyond interpretation into institutional development, creative stewardship and the shaping of the cultural frameworks that will ultimately define our era’s art history.
Lauren Tsai On Keeping Ideas Alive in a Dying World
In the artist’s “The Dying World,” everything has a particular provenance and a special consequence, the didactics of which come directly from her practice.
Why Beeple Believes Digital Art’s Future Isn’t Up for Debate
The artist doesn’t see a divide between digital and traditional—just an overdue but inevitable expansion of what counts as art and who shapes the narrative around it.
Post-Holiday Detox: Reset Your Mind, Body and Soul at These California Retreats
From a beachfront resort on the sandy dunes of Monterey to a zen retreat near Palm Springs, we’ve rounded up the best hotels for a holiday detox in the new year.
A.I. Won’t Eliminate Managers, But It Will Redefine Leadership
Dominic Ashley-Timms, CEO of the performance consultancy Notion and co-author of The Answer Is a Question, examines why A.I. won’t replace managers, but will ruthlessly expose those who rely on control, information hoarding and routine problem-solving. Ashley-Timms argues that as A.I. automates complexity and democratizes knowledge, the future of management will belong to leaders who can build trust, develop people and create meaning—skills no algorithm can replicate.
An Exhibition in Paris Reconsiders Minimalism for a Hyper-Mediated Age
“Minimal” at La Bourse de Commerce aptly demonstrates why the movement feels newly urgent today.
Observer’s Must-See Museum Shows of 2026
After a turbulent 12 months for many major arts institutions, the new year brings a global slate of blockbuster exhibitions featuring artists from Frida Kahlo to Marcel Duchamp.
Creating a Legacy with Love: Phong Bui’s Tribute to Meyer Schapiro
“Singing in Unison, Part 13,” now on at the Brattleboro Museum in Vermont, showcases brilliantly the scope of the pair’s expansive minds.
Thailand’s First International Contemporary Art Museum Opens, Marking a New Cultural Chapter
Drawn from a single private collection built over three decades, Dib Bangkok’s holdings reflect an intentionally balanced conversation between Asian and non-Asian artistic practices.
Dutch Golden Age Treasures from Thomas Kaplan’s Leiden Collection Take Center Stage in West Palm Beach
The works on display highlight the breadth of 17th-century Dutch creativity and the collector’s commitment to public access.
4 A.I. Themes That Defined 2025 and Are Shaping What Comes Next
Here are four key themes Observer has identified over the past year of covering the A.I. space. Many of these developments are still unfolding and are likely to shape the field well into 2026 and beyond.
At SLAM, Anselm Kiefer’s Material Transformations
The exhibition emphasizes scale and space as essential components of how Kiefer’s layered materials and historical references should be experienced.