In this year-end roundup episode of The Art Angle, co-hosts Kate Brown and Ben Davis, joined by Artnet Pro editor and art critic Andrew Russeth, review the defining trends, themes, and stories of 2025. They cover the art market's slump and subsequent rebound in New York's fall auctions and Art Basel Miami Beach, the political impact of Trump 2.0 on arts funding and museum governance, the question of a 'post-woke' art world, the return of digital art, and the ongoing power of red chip art. The episode also highlights the multi-front crisis facing institutions due to changing public expectations, rising costs, and political shifts, alongside lighter, unusual stories from the art world.
This roundup matters because it provides a comprehensive, expert-driven synthesis of a tumultuous year in the visual arts, offering context for market trends, institutional challenges, and cultural shifts that will shape 2026. By analyzing both the serious and the surreal, the episode helps art professionals and enthusiasts understand the forces driving change in galleries, museums, auctions, and policy, making it a valuable reference for navigating the year ahead.