As we bid farewell to another year that seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye, January offers us a chance to pause, reflect, and ease into the new year with a sense of tranquility. Personally, I find solace in quiet contemplation, soothing music, and indulging in some silent reading. One of my go-to reads during this time is A View From the Easel, a column that showcases artists’ creative spaces. The idea of cozying up in artist Maxine Davidowitz’s barn studio in upstate New York with a steaming cup of cocoa sounds absolutely delightful.
Winter days are also perfect for enjoying games, and today, we have Hyperallergic’s monthly Art Crossword with a special Art Deco theme. Additionally, our Required Reading section curates a selection of must-read articles, essays, and videos from the past week. Here’s to a promising 2026 filled with joy and laughter.
— Natalie Haddad, reviews editor
A View From the Easel
“In retrospect, what I created in that basement astonishes me.” | Lakshmi Rivera Amin
Required Reading
A meditation on light, hedonistic dance-floor photos, a filthy history of public bathrooms, and more reading to ring in a new year. | Lisa Yin Zhang
The Virginia A. Groot Foundation’s Transformative Grants Empower Artists
This foundation offers annual grants to support sculptors and ceramic artists with funding, studio advancement, and opportunities for material exploration.
The Art Crossword: Art Deco Edition
Start the year with a bit of glamour as we continue celebrating the centennial of this pivotal 20th-century movement. | Natan Last
From the Archive
What Cookie Monster Can Teach Us About Art
From art critic, to poet, to journalist, the Sesame Street character is always hungry for cookies — and in pursuit of beauty. | Monica Uszerowicz
LSU School of Art Offers Highest MFA Stipends in the Southern US
With assistantships funded at $23,000, full tuition waivers, and generous health insurance, Louisiana State University helps students lay the groundwork for a successful lifelong art practice.
ICYMI
Wes Anderson Brings Joseph Cornell’s Studio to Life
The whimsical filmmaker recreated the Queens artist’s home studio at Gagosian Gallery in Paris, the city Cornell longed for but never visited. | Rhea Nayyar
Catherine M Kauffman on AX Mina’s “Hyperallergic’s Art Tarotscope for the Winter Solstice”:
As a Cancer, I just sort of have to chuckle at the idea that those of us of water signs, do not have strength. I see evidence of water’s strength everywhere: the Grand Canyon, rising oceans, massive floods in places one would not expect, tsunamis. I also see its strength in gentle sustaining rains, fog that hides ugly man-made structures, lakes filled with fish and animals they support. Water is pretty amazing stuff that just doesn’t get enough respect. By the way, I love the Tarot and consult it on a fairly regular basis and particularly love seeing a few cards from the deck you referenced here.
