It was an eventful year — how did painters, writers, and creatives respond, and what do they hope for the future? Jo Rosenthal finds out.
2026 is upon us, and that sounds pretty futuristic to say. It was a year of extreme ups and downs, both in the world and within the art world. For some, it was a year of great achievements both personally and within their careers, while for others it was a moment to transform themselves and their bodies of work – a la year of the snake vibes. Art was seen, shared, cried for, admired, and celebrated. It reminded us why creativity matters in the first place. Around the world artists started dialogues that will be ingrained in history for centuries to come.
Reflection is a gift – a chance to choose what to carry forward into the new year and what to leave behind. Maybe through looking inward you’ll find your next favorite thing. Something to give you hope for the next 365 days.
Much of the news has been filled with dread, but in all of that there can be a new spark to unite us. Something positive to support each other with. So what were artists’ favorite parts of the year and what are their hopes for the future? Ask your friends their thoughts, ask yourself in the mirror and check out what artists we love had to say below.
Lauren Besser, jeweller and sculptor: Halo on Stone by Jake Coan at Cristina Grajales Gallery changed how I viewed ‘wearable art.’ The utility of it as a necklace, crown or something stationary to be admired in place yet also interactive and fun was genius all wrapped up together.
My hopes for the future are for more unknown artists to be rightfully platformed and have access to larger audiences. And that AI doesn’t hijack and win the purity of the craft of working by hand.
Tessa Gourin, actress and sculptor: A standout show for me was the joint exhibition of Madeline Bach and Jackie Klein called Secret Weapon at Giovanni’s Room. Madeline is best known for her cakes, which are better described as edible masterpieces. I was inspired by her furthering her usual practice by creating multimedia sculptures. I appreciate how Jackie’s paintings always make me feel like I have just walked in on a private moment that I shouldn’t be witnessing.
I hope that artists (myself included) remind themselves to make art because they feel instinctually compelled to through whatever medium they use. Fuck the politics and the networking element of the whole thing. It deadens it. Just make art.
Samantha Sutcliffe, conceptual artist: A collection of children’s art made during the ‘67 hysteria. Any idea that expresses complexity can be presented in a very simple format. If ‘thought’ is an art form anything you think can become art. Mediums don’t matter as much as the idea driving the work. Artists should be themselves. Stop trying to be perfect. Start making mistakes. Embrace your flaws. We need more disruptions. More theater, music, performance and collaborations.
Nathalia Fagundes, interdisciplinary artist: My hope for the future is that we remove the stereotype of “struggling artists” and build foundations to have more people make art. With post-capitalist mass distribution of pre-packaged “slop”, I hope we realise how fundamental it is to share real stories, to have a way of connecting and further developing empathy. I hope the art world sees that they should be taking chances on new artists, that people want to be seeing art that reflects their reality instead of being spoon-fed what an algorithm/institution/market tells them to.
Simona Mastrolia, interior designer: My favorite artwork of 2025 was Whores in the Attic by Sasha Gordon. I saw her Haze exhibition at David Zwirner earlier this year, and her level of craft and attention to detail blew me away. This particular piece stayed with me and made me want to start drawing again. My hopes for the future of art are for it to become more accessible and for young artists to have larger platforms.
Zachary Teplin, conceptual artist: There were few shows this year that felt very coagulative of psycho-cultural advances, like Asreen Zangana’sThe Interruption. Tommy Kha’s resounding Other Things Uttered, Sam Penn’s Max at New York Life Gallery and every single second of Nicole Linder’s performance in Rick Swenson’s Perfume.
Here’s the plan for 2026: It starts with a decent HVAC system in the Frank Lloyd Wright room at the Met, it ends with being allowed to smoke joints in there.
Danny Bozilla, engineer & composer: My favorite art moment of 2025? It’s hard to pinpoint just one moment. This year has been hard for many artists socio-politically, environmentally and economically. Everything from the LA fires to rising rent costs in a time where there is a lot of political division. That being said, it has been artistically inspiring to see how artists/people have shown up to support their communities during these times. It’s a reminder that no one can do anything alone and we’re here to help each other.
I wish a lot of things for the future of art. I just hope we keep art as human as possible. The ability to intentionally and consciously create, consider and alter how something appears, sounds, or feels is something specific to humans.
Ricki Scheef, painter: One artwork that stayed with me throughout the year was Reflection by Camilla Mengström. This painting, like most of her work, feels less like a single moment and more like witnessing a compounding relationship she’s been having with her art over many years. I’ve always been drawn to florals for their contradictions of delicacy and strength or vulnerability and resilience. Reflection reminded me that art doesn’t need to be loud to be resolved. There is real depth in art practice that stays open, that grows alongside the artist, and that trusts presence and attention to do the work over time.
I hope for an art world that acts as a site of shared attention and sustained presence rather than spectacle. My hope is to continue to see value placed on the connective forces that bind people together and closer to themselves in new and natural ways. Art feels most alive to me when it is represented as a meeting place shaped by duration rather than urgency. Reflection reminded me exactly of that feeling. I’d love to see the “art world” and the communities within it continue to honor connection, patience, and shared presence. That, to me, is where art remains generous and enduring.
