This article presents a quarterly analysis of which living artists are most featured in temporary exhibitions across U.S. museums during September 2025. The author ranks artists based on the number and type of shows they appear in, prioritizing career retrospectives, dedicated exhibitions, and special commissions. The list is dominated by Black and Indigenous artists whose work addresses racism, colonialism, and nature, with Jeffrey Gibson topping the chart due to his Met facade commission, Broad show, and Venice Biennale U.S. Pavilion recreation. Other prominent artists include Firelei Báez, Rashid Johnson, Anila Quayyum Agha, and Ai Weiwei, the only non-U.S.-based artist on the list.
The analysis matters because it reveals current institutional priorities in U.S. museums, highlighting a strong focus on artists of color and themes of social justice, even as the government attacks DEI initiatives. The data also shows a continued insularity, with U.S. museums showing little interest in non-American artists. The article underscores how museum programming, planned years in advance, may not yet reflect the immediate political climate, but the list serves as a barometer for which artists and themes are gaining institutional traction and public visibility.