Artnet News staff reflects on the most impactful stories of 2025, covering a wide range of topics from institutional shifts and devastating wildfires to market sensations and conceptual art. Key pieces include Ben Davis's analysis of the art world's 'post-woke' turn, Sarah Cascone's report on Los Angeles artists losing homes in the Eaton Fire, Katya Kazakina's tale of a David Hockney painting yielding a 7,000 percent return at Christie's, Andrew Russeth's coverage of Richard Prince's seven-hour deposition video, Kate Brown's profile of Friedrich Kunath, and Annie Armstrong's introduction of the 'red-chip' art market driven by hype and crypto.
This roundup matters because it captures the full sweep of the art world in a single year, highlighting how art intersects with social change, natural disaster, financial speculation, and legal drama. The stories reveal the fragility of artists' lives, the volatility of the market, and the ongoing cultural battles within institutions, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the forces shaping contemporary art in 2025.