The article reviews the best art of the year, highlighting key exhibitions and market highlights despite a sluggish commercial art market. Notable events include Rashid Johnson's mid-career survey at the Guggenheim, the opening of Calder Gardens in Philadelphia, and a record-breaking $236.4 million sale of a Gustav Klimt portrait from the estate of Leonard Lauder at Sotheby's. Other featured exhibitions include Larry Bell's installation in Madison Square Park, a historical show on L.G.B.T.Q. art, a Ruth Asawa retrospective, and a Los Angeles exhibition pairing Confederate statues with contemporary responses.
The article matters because it demonstrates that while the commercial art world faced challenges with slumping sales and gallery closures, the creative and institutional sectors thrived with ambitious, thought-provoking exhibitions. It underscores the resilience of visual art as a medium for both historical reexamination and contemporary innovation, and shows that high-quality works can still command record prices at auction. The piece also highlights the importance of new museum spaces like Calder Gardens in enriching cultural landscapes.