Art in America's Summer issue features 20 emerging artists in its annual "New Talent" portfolio, selected by the magazine's editors. The issue also includes a feature on art heist stories by Jackson Arn, an essay on systems art by Emily Watlington, and a piece on tragicomic times by Eugenie Brinkema. Additional content includes a tribute to Henrike Naumann, a spotlight on Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn, a book review of Trevor Paglen's latest work, and departments covering museum and gallery worker perspectives, a Frick Collection vs. Morgan Library comparison, and a summer reading list of art-themed novels.
This issue matters because it highlights a new generation of artists who engage with themes of mutability, transformation, and historical conversation, offering a counterpoint to critiques that younger artists lack depth in their influences. The magazine's curated selection and accompanying essays provide a snapshot of contemporary art's evolving concerns, while features on art theft and systems art address broader cultural and intellectual currents shaping the art world today.