Cultured's art critic reflects on the best and worst of 2025, highlighting standout moments including Salman Toor's 2007 portrait of Zohran Mamdani (now mayor-elect of New York), the posthumous Jack Whitten survey "The Messenger" at MoMA, and Anne Imhof's epic production "DOOM: House of Hope" at the Park Avenue Armory. The article also notes Mamdani's arts-friendly transition committee and the broader resilience of artists amid political turmoil.
The piece matters because it captures a pivotal moment where art and politics intersect in New York, with a mayor-elect who has deep ties to the art world and a demonstrated commitment to cultural policy. It also underscores the enduring power of artists to produce meaningful work despite societal upheaval, and highlights major institutional shows that redefine legacies—like Whitten's long-overdue MoMA survey—while celebrating emerging and established talents alike.