L.A. joins ranks of cities with ‘ghost towers’ with graffiti-covered Oceanwide Plaza
Decaying high-rises in L.A. — as well as Pyongyang and Caracas — represent the limitations of technology and grand building schemes.
How the ‘cool aunties’ of pop culture flout the growing restrictions imposed on women
At a time in which women’s bodily autonomy is constricted, the ‘cool auntie’ offers a model of glamorous independence — and a counter to the ‘tradwife.’
Netflix’s ‘Griselda’ channels ’70s excess — with a cameo by the L.A. Times building
Architect William Pereira’s 1973 Times Mirror building in downtown L.A. makes a special appearance in Netflix’s ‘Griselda’ as a signifier of cocaine excess.
Two Chilean films depict Tierra del Fuego’s brutal colonization — and with it, art’s role
‘The Settlers’ and ‘White on White’ explore the role of film and photography in a brutal era of South American history.
How art conservators fix artistic treasures that may seem beyond repair
A book and a preservation effort at the Getty put a lens on conservation. Plus, a Black stage actor sues for discrimination, in our weekly arts newsletter
AI is making mincemeat out of art (not to mention intellectual property)
AI is swallowing art — high and low — whole. Plus: a shocking turn in a Nazi-looting case and challenging gender in dance, in our weekly arts newsletter
This L.A. flash-fiction star thinks novels are ‘saggy.’ Her own debut proves her wrong
The debut novel ‘Dead in Long Beach, California,’ is a sharp, dazzling turn for Compton-raised author Venita Blackburn, who made her name with lightning-fast fiction.
How two L.A. art exhibitions tweak colonialism’s gaze
Work by Carolyn Castaño and a show inspired by cabinets of curiosities offer subversive delights. Plus, art at the Huntington and the Cheech, in our arts newsletter
Two exhibitions — at VPAM and the Cheech — put Chicanx bodies front and center
Work by Teddy Sandoval at VPAM and a multigenerational exhibition at the Cheech dig into queerness, gender and the politics of the body.
COVID-19 kept us apart. How two New York performance spaces are bringing us back together
Perelman PAC and Lincoln Center’s Geffen Hall — New York performance spaces addressing intricate technical needs — are uniting artists and audiences.
With an opera and a ballet, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera ruled 2023 L.A.
A visually striking opera about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Plus the art of WWI and stained glass in honor of civil rights, in our weekly arts newsletter
Artist Kerry James Marshall’s National Cathedral windows honor the light of protest
New stained glass by Marshall in honor of peaceful protest — along with a poem by Elizabeth Alexander — replace a 1950s tribute to Confederate generals
Simone Leigh’s L.A.-bound sculptures, now in D.C., are stirring and elegant
The Hirshhorn presents work from Simone Leigh’s acclaimed Venice Biennale installation. Plus, Aubrey Plaza takes the stage off-Broadway, in our arts newsletter
The exhibition putting a human face on Britain’s prisons
Banksy’s art is political drivel for the smug, right-thinking classes
The Music Industry’s “360 Deal” Takes a 180 Turn
“Not surprisingly, the record labels aren’t rolling over.”
This was the last painting Freddie Mercury ever bought
Was this Turner Prize list devised by technocrats?
I LOVE (AHMAD JAMAL’S) MUSIC
(I’ve said this in the past but I don’t want artists dying to be only time I actually write new content. I guess I don’t spend enough time giving flowers to the living; I really need to work on that. –O.W.) I always feel awkward…
Did these LS Lowry investors score an own goal?
The Importance of Taking Publicity Photos that Align with Your Music
Taking new publicity photos requires intention and purpose.
Networking 101 for Recording Artists: Dos, Don’ts, & Common Misconceptions
Learn about the dos and don’ts, common misconceptions, and when to open up your network to others in this comprehensive guide.
The Fake Persona At The Heart of 50 Cent’s ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’
50 is phony, but not in the way you might think.
THE MAGIC NUMBER WAS PLUG TWO
“Give the flowers to the living” (or, in this case, daisies I suppose). I’m appreciative to URB Magazine for many reasons, not the least of which is that they gave me the opportunity to interview and profile some of my heroe…
We’re Never Getting A Kanye West Halftime Show
Meanwhile, Rihanna shined bright like a diamond last night.
Why Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis Is The Most Interesting Woman In America
She’s taking on Young Thug and Donald Trump—and she might get results.
THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR: “FAREWELL MY FRIEND”
I recently published my first freelance piece for 2023, a Los Angeles Times profile of Thes One and how he put together, Farewell, My Friend, a beautiful elegy for his PUTS partner, Double K, who passed away two years ago. (Listen // Buy) It’s be…
J. Cole Hits A Vein
On his loosie cut “procrastination (broke),” he struggles with writer’s block yet sounds as inspired as ever.
The Kodak Black Comeback of 2022
“Super Gremlin” was one of the definitive rap songs of last year, how does that square with the rapper’s history of ugly comments and sexual crimes?
Why Gunna Beat The Charges (& Young Thug Won’t)
The DA didn’t have much of a case against Gunna, but they do have one on Thug.
Everyone Thinks They Know What Saweetie Should Do
Her EP isn’t selling well, and everyone from DJ Vlad to Joe Budden to Sonny Digital and Hitmaka think they know how to fix it.
21 Savage, Nas, & The Question of Relevance
Also, how 2022’s breakout rap star GloRilla fits into the conversation.
Is Michelle Obama’s portraitist about to become art’s new household name?
Do you understand Mária Bartuszová’s art better than children do?
Want to visit Jurassic Park? Now you can – for a hefty price
Prince William and Kate have never looked so conventional
A good joke saves lives: a century of quirky public information posters
Coming soon
This is Best Rapper Alive, a newsletter about answering the most important question: Who is the Best Rapper Alive?
Best art exhibitions and galleries to visit in London and across the UK in summer 2021
Green helmets and flushed cheeks – the Second World War in colour
Tracey Emin says her cancer is ‘gone’ and accuses politicians of ‘never having been to a museum’
‘Cancelling’ history is anathema to the way the cultural sector works
Can I go to a museum? What the tier system means for art lovers
Tracey Emin/Edvard Munch: The Loneliness of the Soul, RA, review: a graceful love letter from Emin to her hero
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Tate Britain, review: an art-world darling who coasts on clichés
Christo: the artist’s greatest works, and the stories behind them
Sonia Boyce to be first black woman to represent Britain at Venice Biennale
Gutenberg Sample Post
This is some dummy copy. You’re not really supposed to read this dummy copy, it is just a placeholder for people who need some type to visualize what the actual copy might look like if it were real content. If you want to read, I might suggest a good book, perhaps Melville. That’s why they …
Testing the Elements
This is some dummy copy. You’re not really supposed to read this dummy copy, it is just a place holder for people who need some type to visualize what the actual copy might look like if it were real content. If you want to read, I might suggest a good book, perhaps Hemingway or Melville. …
Post with YouTube Video
This is some dummy copy. You’re not really supposed to read this dummy copy, it is just a place holder for people who need some type to visualize what the actual copy might look like if it were real content. If you want to read, I might suggest a good book, perhaps Hemingway or Melville. …