Five Pieces That Quietly Stole the Show at Art Basel Miami Beach 2025
The strongest presentations feel almost allergic to hype, with tightly edited selections that reward close looking.
Will the Latest Basquiat Biopic Hew to History? Al Diaz Has His Doubts
Forty-seven years later, Samo has a life of its own—just not the one Diaz imagined when he and a 17-year-old Jean-Michel Basquiat picked up spray paint and decided to sell the world religion.
The Post-Safari Pairing: An Insider’s Guide to South Africa’s Winelands
Where to wine, dine and explore the sublime in South Africa’s Winelands.
Art
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The Early Experiments of Manoucher Yektai
The artist’s vaguely surrealist dreamscapes and gestural portraiture often converged stylistically with the work of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism.
The Aerosol Awakening: Shepard Fairey On Street Art’s Infiltration of Miami Art Week
“There’s a really generous spirit to people in street art, public art, graffiti, where people are doing things that they want everyone to be able to experience, and there’s no barrier to entry,” the artist tells Observer.
Art Basel Miami Beach Opens Strong as Market Confidence Meets Curatorial Risk
If there’s a common thread running through this year’s presentations, it’s the introspective tone of works that grapple with the push and pull between the physical and the virtual.
Curator Irene Gelfman On Pinta Miami’s Evolution into a Hub for Ibero-American Art
This fair is a refreshing alternative, or perhaps an antidote, to the chaotic South Beach scene.
One Fine Show: “Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism” at the Denver Art Museum
The exhibition makes the case that this relatively mellow artist should stand shoulder to shoulder with his crazier peers.
Lifestyle
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Inside a Modern Thai Dining Brand: Culture, Creativity and the Business of Nightlife
Chef Max Wittawat, the executive chef behind New York City’s Bangkok Supper Club, has spent years refining a style of Thai cooking that is both deeply rooted in regional flavor and boldly contemporary. In this Expert Insights Q&A, Wittawat explores how he brings the kinetic energy of Bangkok’s late-night dining scene into one of New York’s most distinctive restaurant experiences, balancing cultural authenticity with constant experimentation, operational discipline and a collaborative creative process.
33 High-Impact Tech Gifts for People Who Swears They Don’t Need Anything
These rigorously tested picks cover health tracking, noise canceling, home cinema, gaming and everyday productivity, curated for the hard-to-shop-for friend who already owns the obvious stuff.
Spend the Holidays in Style at SoCal’s Most Glamorous Hotels
From beachside fireside igloos to Nutcracker-inspired afternoon teas, these SoCal hotels have everything you need for a holiday getaway with style.
The Most Exciting Luxury Ship Launches of 2026
Next year’s luxury cruises set a new standard for maritime sophistication and comfort, from smaller ships to larger suites and top-tier dining.
In Abu Dhabi, RM Sotheby’s and McLaren Are Putting a Trio of Unraced Competition Cars on the Block
The top lot in the collectible cars sale, with a high estimate of $21 million, is a rare 1994 McLaren F1: chassis 014—one of just 64 road-spec F1s produced.
Culture
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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.
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.
Defying Definition: Why Fictional Words Cast Such a Spell On Us
It’s time to brush up on the art of the sniglet, because ‘Wicked: For Good’ is about to bring familiar yet fantastical and tongue-twisting neologisms back to the big screen.
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.
Get Cozy With Our Picks for the Best Sweater Weather Reads
These are the titles to reach for when winter’s bite makes staying in with a good book the only logical choice.
Business
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Google’s New A.I. Chip Is Shaking Nvidia’s Dominance: What to Know
Google’s Ironwood TPU rollout marks a pivotal moment in Big Tech’s effort to reduce reliance on Nvidia GPUs.
Why Pricing Needs a Behavioral Reset in an Era of Rising Costs
Ann Padley and Jenny Millar, co-authors of The Pricing Sprint and leaders of the consultancy Untapped Pricing, explore why many companies are losing value because customers aren’t perceiving their prices as intended. Drawing from their deep expertise in behavioral pricing strategy, Padley and Millar unpack how anchoring, choice architecture and decision simplicity can meaningfully shift purchasing behavior without altering a single price point. In a market defined by rising costs and limited pricing power, the next wave of commercial growth will come from understanding how customers actually make decisions and designing pricing strategies that reflect those real-world behaviors.
When Positivity Turns Toxic: How Cultures That Silence Dissent Lose Their Edge
Steven D’Souza, educator, executive coach and author of Shadows at Work, examines how enforced positivity has become a hidden liability inside modern organizations. By exploring the consequences of silencing discomfort—from distorted decision-making to eroded psychological safety—he shows why leaders must create environments where candor, complexity and constructive friction can thrive.
Warner Bros. Discovery Agrees to Merge With Netflix Amid Mounting Antitrust Pressure
The sweeping deal would fuse two entertainment giants, expanding Netflix’s library as critics warn of shrinking competition.
Dollar General and Dollar Tree Surge as Wealthy Consumers Seek Bargains
Dollar General and Dollar Tree are thriving as shoppers across income levels seek deeper discounts.
Art Market
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In Miami, NADA and Untitled Art Test the Temperature of the Mid-Tier and Emerging Markets
The long-running ping-pong between the two fairs continues this year with vibrant energy and steady sales that are strong enough to suggest the young market is rebounding.
Wendi Norris Bet On Women Surrealists—Now the Market Has Caught Up
“Depth is what connects people, and the artists I work with have that depth,” the dealer tells Observer.
The $10 Million Hermès Problem: Estate Planning When Luxury Collectibles Outpace the Art Market
From a $10 million Birkin to a $2.9 million Macallan, luxury collectibles are transforming not only the alternative asset market but also estate and tax planning.
Utamaro’s ‘Fukagawa in Snow’ Led Sotheby’s HK$688M Sale of Works from the Okada Museum of Art
The museum, founded in 2013 by billionaire Kazuo Okada, was compelled to sell the trove of masterworks to settle a $50 million legal bill owed by the collector.
Meet the Collector: Ronald Harrar On Redefining Rules and Roles in a More Fluid Art World
For the Venezuela-born, New York–based collector, acquiring art has never been a passive act.
Art Reviews
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“Nigerian Modernism” Reframes the Story of Modern African Art
Curator Osei Bonsu describes the exhibition as “cultural restoration in real time.”
Don’t Miss These Five Museum-Grade Works in Art Basel Miami Beach’s Meridians Sector
From Soto’s rare ‘Pénétrable’ to Anne Samat’s towering woven deities, the artworks in the fair’s most ambitious sector offer meditations on an unusually urgent theme.
At the Getty Research Institute, the Guerrilla Girls Mark 40 Years of Calling Out the Art World
Four decades after their first posters appeared in New York, the Guerrilla Girls are still using data, humor and shame to confront museums about who gets seen and who remains invisible.
Musée Marmottan Monet’s “The Empire of Sleep” Considers Slumber as an Artistic Trope
The exhibition text reminds viewers that sleep takes up about a third of our lives; given this significant consumption of hours, it deserves to be pondered and studied.
Observer’s Must-See Miami Art Week Exhibitions
From speculative A.I. dreamscapes to mythic gardens, geological ceramics and queer maximalism, these are the shows not to miss when you’re in town for Art Basel Miami Beach.
Luxury Travel
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The Festive Food and Drink Holiday Happenings in L.A. for 2025
In addition to decking the halls, many L.A. establishments host seasonal specials and experiences that you can only enjoy during the most wonderful time of the year.
Manhattan’s Jewel Box Celebrates 95 Sparkling Years
The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, toasts its legacy at the glittering ‘Red Diamond’ gala.
Iconic Moments from 95 Years of Glittering Galas at The Pierre
From debutantes to designers, the legendary hotel has been the epicenter of chic New York soirées since 1930.
The Glamorous History of The Pierre: Manhattan’s Iconic Hotel Turns 95
The fascinating 95-year history of Manhattan’s iconic Pierre, a Taj Hotel.
The Ultra-Boutique Hotels for an Exclusive Winter Escape Out West
Several mountain towns turn up the charm with uber-boutique hotels that offer the most exclusive getaways.
Nightlife & Dining
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The Only St. Barths Restaurants That Matter This Season
The island’s essential mix of chic beach clubs, insider haunts and splashy hotspots where the food is as memorable as the crowd.
The Cozy Red Wines to Gift for the Holidays
A globe-trotting mix of cabernets, pinot noirs and off-beat varietals proves that the season’s coziest red-wine gifts don’t have to be predictable.
The Most Unique Bottles of Gin to Gift this Holiday Season
From ant-infused distillations to hand-carved Kenyan juniper bottles, these gins are engineered to delight and dominate any bar cart.
Las Vegas’ Formula 1 Weekend Delivered the Stars—and a Twist No One Saw Coming
What began as a star-studded sprint down the Strip ended in a rule-book twist that rattled the championship race.
The Best Tequila and Mezcal Gifts to Keep Spirits Bright This Holiday Season
From naturally-fermented and distilled tequilas to micro-batched mezcals, these are the best agave spirits to gift—or put on your personal wish list.
Style
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Wellness Gifts to Deliver Calm During Holiday Chaos
From sauna blankets and sunrise alarms to singing bowls and weighted throws, these wellness gifts deliver serenity amid the holiday chaos.
The Essentials With Christina Hendricks: Edinburgh Escapes, Rose Face Mist and Dressing the Part
The Buccaneers star shares her vintage habits, beauty rituals, favorite Edinburgh escapes and the one accessory she refuses to retire.
The Best Holiday Gifts for the Art Lovers and Artists On Your List
Here’s what to buy the art enthusiast in your life.
Tiny Treasures: The Stocking Stuffers She’ll Love This Holiday Season
These chic stocking stuffers prove that bigger isn’t always better.
Small Gifts, Big Flex: The Stocking Stuffers He’ll Actually Appreciate
From the perfectly practical to the wonderfully frivolous, these are the best stocking stuffer ideas that he’ll absolutely love this holiday season.
Theater
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The Broadway Musical Isn’t Dying—It’s Just Changing Keys
Heather A. Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, examines why the recurring narrative that “the Broadway musical is in trouble” misses the larger transformation underway. Drawing on three decades in performing arts administration—including stewardship of the Tony Awards and major grantmaking, educational and artist-development programs—Hitchens argues that Broadway isn’t facing an artistic decline but a structural evolution, even as its financial model strains to keep pace.
Elizabeth Marvel On Navigating a Dystopian Future in Tim Blake Nelson’s ‘And Then We Were No More’
Marvel stars as a lawyer navigating a justice system stripped of mercy, nuance and human judgment.
Jeremy McCarter’s Audiodrama Puts Us Inside Hamlet’s Head
The experiment works best when we hear the titular character not foregrounded but embedded in the specificities of his place and time.
Review: ‘Masquerade’ Tries to Revive ‘Phantom of the Opera’ But Embalms It Instead
Diane Paulus is an old pro at taking theatrical IP and infusing wild, contemporary life into it. If only she’d done so here.
Review: Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter’s ‘Waiting for Godot’ Is Excellent
Fans of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure registered delight throughout the Hudson Theatre. Bogus? Not a jot.
Opera
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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.
With Precision and Playfulness, ‘La Fille du Regiment’ Considers Love, Loyalty and the Absurdities of War
Laurent Pelly’s spirited revival at the Met turns military mayhem into irresistible comedy.
Erin Morley and Lawrence Brownlee Bring ‘Golden Age’ Flair to the Met’s ‘La Fille du Régiment’ Revival
The pair’s long parallel histories highlight how shared artistic journeys can evolve into major collaborations onstage and in the recording studio.
Dance
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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.
Shen Wei On “STILL / MOVING” and Finding Harmony Across Disciplines
A new dual-venue exhibition traces nearly three decades of artistic evolution, from early experiments in gesture to meditative explorations of form and balance.
At 85 Years Old, American Ballet Theatre Has Never Looked Better
ABT’s latest season brings 15 ballets to the stage, including a world premiere, several company premieres and a well-curated sampling of its expansive repertory from the past 85 years.
Misty Copeland Takes a Bow at the American Ballet Theatre Gala
Any gala hosted by American Ballet Theatre is bound to be wonderful, but the company’s 85th anniversary fete was an especially splendid—and meaningful—affair.
Tech
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Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Sounds Alarm on A.I. Firms’ ‘YOLO’ Spending
The Anthropic CEO warns that miscalculating compute needs—not competition—poses the biggest threat to A.I. firms today.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp Doesn’t Mind Being Called an ‘Arrogant Prick’
Alex Karp rebuffed criticism of Palantir’s federal contracts and surveillance role while highlighting the company’s strong revenue and A.I. momentum.
Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton Raises a Key Question on Regulating Prediction Markets
As Polymarket and Kalshi soar in value, Clayton argues the sector’s core function remains an unsettled regulatory question.
How Subscriptions and Flexible Ownership Models Are Rewriting the EV Adoption Curve
Rei Vardi, founder and CEO of Eon, examines how subscriptions and flexible ownership models are transforming the EV adoption curve, offering a practical bridge between consumer interest and affordability. Vardi argues that the next wave of adoption will be driven by pragmatic, service-first mobility models that match how people actually live. As charging infrastructure expands and total cost-of-ownership concerns rise, he explains why flexible access is poised to redefine electric driving in 2026 and beyond.
How A.I. Is Changing Black Friday Shopping Forever
A.I.-powered chatbots and assistants are reshaping how Americans shop during the year’s biggest retail weekend.
Finance
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MrBeast’s Media Empire Expands Far Beyond YouTube
Beast Industries unveils plans for Beast Mobile and a financial platform as MrBeast grows his business far beyond content and consumer products.
Investors Brush Off Michael Burry’s View That Tesla Is ‘Ridiculously Overvalued’
Investors spar over whether Musk’s $1 trillion compensation plan will erode Tesla’s value or fuel its next phase of growth.
Gates Foundation Warns Child Deaths Rising as Global Aid Cuts Mount
Child mortality is expected to rise for the first time in decades as wealthy nations cut global health funding, the Gates Foundation warns in a new report.
Michael and Susan Dell Give $6.25B to Launch Savings Accounts for 25M Children
The Dells’ $6.25 billion donation expands newly created “Trump accounts,” offering millions of kids investment seed funds and urging wider community support.
Why Real-World Utility, Not Meme Coin Mania, Will Drive Crypto’s Next Wave
Maksym Sakharov, group CEO and co-founder of WeFi, examines why the next phase of crypto growth won’t be driven by meme coins or speculative manias, but by the rapid rise of stablecoins, tokenized assets and decentralized on-chain banking. Sakharov argues that real-world payments and robust infrastructure will define crypto’s evolution into a mature parallel financial system.
Media
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A24 Turns Timothée Chalamet’s Star Power Into Its Most Viral Marketing Machine Yet
A24 is turning Timothée Chalamet’s star power into a full-blown marketing machine as ‘Marty Supreme’ goes viral with stunts, merch and fan frenzy.
Why ESPN Bet Failed in a Market Dominated by DraftKings and FanDuel
Experts say ESPN Bet faltered due to late market entry and weak conversions, even as U.S. sports betting surges to record highs.
MrBeast Partners With One of America’s Oldest Foundations to Boost Giving
The Rockefeller Foundation and Beast Philanthropies plan new initiatives aimed at Gen Z and Gen Alpha, using social media to amplify giving.
Why Game Engines Are Becoming A.I.’s Most Important Testbeds
Ilman Shazhaev, founder and CEO of Dizzaract—the largest game development studio in the Middle East—examines how gaming has become the most sophisticated testbed for A.I. Shazhaev argues that the future of generative technology will be defined not by content but by the frameworks that enable creation at scale. He explores why game engines, interactive worlds and player-driven systems are shaping how machines learn to reason, act and imagine.
Understanding YouTube TV’s New Disney Deal and the Future of Live Streaming TV
Disney’s channels return to YouTube TV under a new agreement that bundles ESPN Unlimited and deepens ties as the industry faces cost pressures.
Power Lists
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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.
The Top PR Firms in 2025
This year’s PR Power List celebrates the agencies bold enough to lead the charge and smart enough to reflect the world they’re shaping.
Latest
All Latest
A $30.2 Million Fabergé Egg Commissioned by the Last Czar of Russia Sets a New Auction Record
The frosty Fabergé piece is one of just two surviving eggs designed by Alma Theresia Pihl.
California’s Most Charming Small Towns for a Quiet Holiday Retreat
Escape the holiday hustle and unwind in California’s coziest, most festive small towns, where charm and seasonal spirit take center stage.
Meet the Collector: Lisa Perry On Bringing Her Women-Centered Onna House to Soho
Her gallery’s rotating installations allow collectors to encounter artworks in arrangements that evoke a lived-in, domestic environment.
How Simões de Assis Built a Global Platform for Brazilian Art
“It’s a family business, and we’re proud that the second generation has been able to improve things while still being supported by the first,” Guilherme de Assis tells Observer.
The Best Holiday City Breaks That Are Just the Right Amount of Festive
From twinkling lights to quiet strolls, these cities offer the perfect mix of holiday cheer without the overload.
Masayoshi Son ‘Crying’ Over Nvidia Sale as SoftBank Doubles Down on A.I.
Masayoshi Son defends SoftBank’s aggressive A.I. strategy despite worries of a bubble, saying Nvidia will keep rising and A.I. returns will justify the hype.
The REEFLINE Project Turns Public Art into Ecological Infrastructure
“Here, art isn’t just raising awareness; it is a solution,” entrepreneur Ximena Caminos told Observer.
An Insider’s Guide to Toronto
Canada’s fastest-growing metropolis has traded its buttoned-up reputation for a surge of new energy that show where the city is headed next.
Why Chile Might Be South America’s Most Overlooked Adventure Capital
From Atacama to Patagonia, Chile makes extremes easy with dark-sky nights, glacier days and coastal dinners.
The Best Art Galleries in Vienna, Austria
Largely recognized for its imperial grandeur, this city is home to a thriving network of contemporary galleries that offer a balance of bold experimentation and classic artistic traditions.
Gagosian’s Kara Vander Weg On Shaping the Afterlife of an Artist’s Work
The gallery’s “Building a Legacy Program” demonstrates how careful stewardship can pull even underappreciated artists back from the brink of market amnesia.
Japan’s Bold Bid to Lead the Next Era of A.I.
Japan is positioning itself as a global A.I. hub, blending regulation, industry adoption and homegrown models.
The Confidence Trap: How Companies Misjudge Talent—and Lose Their Best Leaders
Professor Ginka Toegel, a leading expert on organizational behavior and leadership at IMD Business School and author of The Confidence Myth, examines why companies continue to confuse confidence with competence, and how that misalignment quietly distorts promotion decisions. By unpacking new data on potential ratings, feedback patterns, and promotion outcomes, Toegel shows that the future of effective leadership development depends on replacing intuition-driven judgments with evidence-based systems that reward actual impact.
11 Executives Driving Anthropic’s Meteoric Rise in the A.I. Boom
A detailed look at the founders, executives and board members guiding Anthropic’s explosive growth.
Why Some Collectors Sell Their Artworks Through Trusts
A charitable remainder unitrust provides art collectors looking to sell with a stream of income and a smaller tax burden than they would face if they sold a work outright.
Real Estate’s Last Black Box Is About to Break Open
Blake O’Shaughnessy, a top real estate broker turned tech founder, examines why the housing market still operates behind a wall of inaccessible data, creating a system where buyers and sellers are forced to navigate one of life’s biggest financial decisions with incomplete information. Transparent, accessible housing data, he argues, is the infrastructure shift that will finally modernize real estate and make the market work for the people it’s supposed to serve.
OpenAI’s Secretive A.I. Gadget Designed by Jony Ive Aims to Redefine Tech’s Vibe
Altman and Ive say OpenAI’s first A.I. device aims to replace tech’s chaos with calm, simplicity and a touch of whimsy.
This A.I. Startup Hiring Neurodivergent Workers Beats Scale AI in Major Defense Contract
The Virginia startup Enabled Intelligence beats Scale AI for a major military contract.