{"id":1770567,"date":"2026-02-13T11:00:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T08:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1770567"},"modified":"2026-02-13T11:00:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T08:00:45","slug":"the-commissioner-we-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1770567","title":{"rendered":"The Commissioner We Need"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><main class=\"gh-main\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"gh-article post tag-daily-newsletter tag-newsletter no-image\">\n<header class=\"gh-article-header gh-canvas\">\n<p>                Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"gh-article-title is-title\">The Commissioner We Need<\/h1>\n<p class=\"gh-article-excerpt is-body\">Who should lead arts and culture in NYC, Valentine&#8217;s Day tips, and the sad state of Artforum. <\/p>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta\">\n<div class=\"gh-article-author-image instapaper_ignore\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-profile-image\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/size\/w160\/2025\/11\/hyperallergic-favicon-d-blank-r-g-s-500.png\" alt=\"Hyperallergic\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta-wrapper\">\n<h4 class=\"gh-article-author-name\">Hyperallergic<\/h4>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta-content\"><time class=\"gh-article-meta-date\" datetime=\"2026-02-13\">February 13, 2026<\/time><span class=\"gh-article-meta-length\"><span class=\"bull\">\u2014<\/span> 4 min read<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"gh-content gh-canvas is-body\">\n<p>It&#8217;s impossible to imagine New York City without art, or contemporary art without New York City. This is where you come to see the best of the best, or to take part in making it. This country\u2019s international\u00a0standing is down in\u00a0the gutter, thanks to Trump, but this city is still a living, rolling dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Right now, we&#8217;re waiting to see who&#8217;s going to be Mayor Mamdani&#8217;s pick for cultural affairs commissioner. It&#8217;s an important role that determines where the city&#8217;s budget priorities will lie and who&#8217;ll get a seat at the table. Gonzalo Casals, who served as culture commissioner under Mayor de Blasio, and Mauricio Delf\u00edn, who co-directs the Culture &amp; Arts Policy Institute with Casals, have some urgent thoughts on the matter. It&#8217;s a must-read not just for Zohran (send him a link if you&#8217;re on texting terms), but for everyone who cares about art in this city.    <\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief <\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-72-1.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\"><figcaption><span>Culture in Crisis rally at City Hall in March 2024 (photo courtesy New York City Council)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"nyc-deserves-a-culture-commissioner-who-cares\">NYC Deserves a Culture Commissioner Who Cares<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;New York\u2019s cultural life is not a luxury; it is civic infrastructure \u2014 how we make meaning, build belonging, improve community well-being, and create economic opportunities for all New Yorkers,&#8221; write Casals and Delfin, stressing the need for a &#8220;public counterpart who understands that progress is built with civil society.&#8221; \u00a0<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-white kg-cta-immersive  kg-cta-has-img  \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>SPONSORED<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/HyperallergicAd-2.jpg\" alt=\"CTA Image\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1308\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>Introducing the Hyper SoCal Initiative<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Discover your new favorite local art destination with Hyper SoCal! From unique neighborhood community centers to innovative contemporary art spaces, Hyper SoCal celebrates creative voices shaping our cultural landscape. Originated at Brand Library &amp; Art Center, this regional initiative spotlights the artists and spaces that help Southern California thrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                            Learn more<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"valentines-in-nyc\">Valentine&#8217;s in NYC<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/Vaginal_Davis_Selects_006_Version_2-2000x1600-1-1-1.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\"><figcaption><span>Vaginal Davis, \u201cThe Wicked Pavilion: Tween Bedroom\u201d (2021) (photo Steven Paneccasio, courtesy MoMA PS1<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"your-guide-to-a-sexy-artsy-non-boring-valentine%E2%80%99s-day-in-nyc\">Your Guide to a Sexy, Artsy, Non-Boring Valentine\u2019s Day in NYC<\/h3>\n<p>Celebrate Valentine&#8217;s Day like an art person should. A zine fair, an exhibition on sex and cults, and an on-demand love note written by a poet at the Brooklyn Museum are a few of Greta Rainbow&#8217;s suggestions for a satisfying Valentine&#8217;s. And don&#8217;t forget to love yourself, yes? <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"from-our-critics\">From Our Critics<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/dgart-1-1.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"><figcaption><span>Elana Mann, \u201cCall to Arms, 2015-2025\u201d (2025 (photo Tara Ann Dalbow\/<\/span><i><em class=\"italic\">Hyperallergic<\/em><\/i><span>)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"the-importance-of-making-%E2%80%9Cdegenerate%E2%80%9D-art\">The Importance of Making \u201cDegenerate\u201d Art<\/h3>\n<p>Here, the term is reclaimed not as an insult but as an ethical position: art that refuses neutrality, civility, or institutional comfort. | Tara Anne Dalbow<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-white kg-cta-immersive  kg-cta-has-img  \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>SPONSORED<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/1-2400-x-1350-2.jpg\" alt=\"CTA Image\" data-image-dimensions=\"2400x1350\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>The Rubin\u2019s Annual Grant Program Funds Himalayan Art and Research<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>The 2026 grant cycle opens February 16. Submit a letter of intent by March 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                            Learn more<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"member-comment\">Member Comment<\/h2>\n<p>Nell Painter on Jennifer Samets \u201cBeer With a Painter: Mary Lovelace O\u2019Neal\u201d:<\/p>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-yellow\">\n<div class=\"kg-callout-text\">I have adored Mary Lovelace O&#8217;Neal&#8217;s work for over a quarter of a century and so am delighted to see her and it profiled here. She deserves infinitely more exposure and praise than has come to her, even now. I&#8217;m so glad she is still with us, still painting. Thank you<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Commenting privileges are reserved\u00a0for paid members.\u00a0Join us today!<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"community\">Community<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-68-1.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1100\" height=\"619\"><figcaption><span>Tina Rivers Ryan (photo via Penske Media Group)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"art-movements-another-artforum-editor-in-chief-is-out\">Art Movements: Another Artforum Editor-in-Chief Is Out<\/h3>\n<p>Tina Rivers Ryan steps down from the disgraced publication, the Studio Museum names three artists-in-residence, Queens Museum names a new leader, and a deeply unnecessary new Jeff Koons collab in our weekly roundup of industry news. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"a-view-from-the-easel\">A View From the Easel<\/h3>\n<p>This week, Ileana Garc\u00eda Magoda from Acatitl\u00e1n, Mexico, and Renee Levin from Rumson, New Jersey, experiment with papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 and crave natural light. &#8220;Getting sun helps me focus and acts as a warm-up before painting,\u201d says Garc\u00eda Magoda. Your studio could be next! <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"required-reading\">Required Reading <\/h3>\n<p>Gladys Nilsson subverts ageist myths, letters from children in ICE detention, Heathcliff and whiteness, To\u00f1ita at the Super Bowl, Japanese incense clocks, and more must-reads from around the internet. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"icymi\">ICYMI<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-73.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\"><figcaption><span>NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani addressing his supporters after his historic victory on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Selcuk Acar\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"dear-zohran-don%E2%80%99t-let-art-workers-down\">Dear Zohran, Don\u2019t Let Art Workers Down<\/h3>\n<p>Those of us in the cultural sector need you to enact a bold vision for the role of city government in fostering the arts and helping our communities thrive. | Sami Abu Shumays<\/p>\n<hr>\n<ul class=\"post-tags\">\n<li>\n                        Daily Newsletter\n                      <\/li>\n<li>\n                        Newsletter\n                      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/main><\/p>\n<article class=\"gh-article post tag-daily-newsletter tag-newsletter no-image\">\n<header class=\"gh-article-header gh-canvas\">\n<p>                Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"gh-article-title is-title\">The Commissioner We Need<\/h1>\n<p class=\"gh-article-excerpt is-body\">Who should lead arts and culture in NYC, Valentine&#8217;s Day tips, and the sad state of Artforum. <\/p>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta\">\n<div class=\"gh-article-author-image instapaper_ignore\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-profile-image\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/size\/w160\/2025\/11\/hyperallergic-favicon-d-blank-r-g-s-500.png\" alt=\"Hyperallergic\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta-wrapper\">\n<h4 class=\"gh-article-author-name\">Hyperallergic<\/h4>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta-content\"><time class=\"gh-article-meta-date\" datetime=\"2026-02-13\">February 13, 2026<\/time><span class=\"gh-article-meta-length\"><span class=\"bull\">\u2014<\/span> 4 min read<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"gh-content gh-canvas is-body\">\n<p>It&#8217;s impossible to imagine New York City without art, or contemporary art without New York City. This is where you come to see the best of the best, or to take part in making it. This country\u2019s international\u00a0standing is down in\u00a0the gutter, thanks to Trump, but this city is still a living, rolling dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Right now, we&#8217;re waiting to see who&#8217;s going to be Mayor Mamdani&#8217;s pick for cultural affairs commissioner. It&#8217;s an important role that determines where the city&#8217;s budget priorities will lie and who&#8217;ll get a seat at the table. Gonzalo Casals, who served as culture commissioner under Mayor de Blasio, and Mauricio Delf\u00edn, who co-directs the Culture &amp; Arts Policy Institute with Casals, have some urgent thoughts on the matter. It&#8217;s a must-read not just for Zohran (send him a link if you&#8217;re on texting terms), but for everyone who cares about art in this city.    <\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief <\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-72-1.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\"><figcaption><span>Culture in Crisis rally at City Hall in March 2024 (photo courtesy New York City Council)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"nyc-deserves-a-culture-commissioner-who-cares\">NYC Deserves a Culture Commissioner Who Cares<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;New York\u2019s cultural life is not a luxury; it is civic infrastructure \u2014 how we make meaning, build belonging, improve community well-being, and create economic opportunities for all New Yorkers,&#8221; write Casals and Delfin, stressing the need for a &#8220;public counterpart who understands that progress is built with civil society.&#8221; \u00a0<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-white kg-cta-immersive  kg-cta-has-img  \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>SPONSORED<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/HyperallergicAd-2.jpg\" alt=\"CTA Image\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1308\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>Introducing the Hyper SoCal Initiative<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Discover your new favorite local art destination with Hyper SoCal! From unique neighborhood community centers to innovative contemporary art spaces, Hyper SoCal celebrates creative voices shaping our cultural landscape. Originated at Brand Library &amp; Art Center, this regional initiative spotlights the artists and spaces that help Southern California thrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                            Learn more<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"valentines-in-nyc\">Valentine&#8217;s in NYC<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/Vaginal_Davis_Selects_006_Version_2-2000x1600-1-1-1.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\"><figcaption><span>Vaginal Davis, \u201cThe Wicked Pavilion: Tween Bedroom\u201d (2021) (photo Steven Paneccasio, courtesy MoMA PS1<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"your-guide-to-a-sexy-artsy-non-boring-valentine%E2%80%99s-day-in-nyc\">Your Guide to a Sexy, Artsy, Non-Boring Valentine\u2019s Day in NYC<\/h3>\n<p>Celebrate Valentine&#8217;s Day like an art person should. A zine fair, an exhibition on sex and cults, and an on-demand love note written by a poet at the Brooklyn Museum are a few of Greta Rainbow&#8217;s suggestions for a satisfying Valentine&#8217;s. And don&#8217;t forget to love yourself, yes? <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"from-our-critics\">From Our Critics<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/dgart-1-1.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"><figcaption><span>Elana Mann, \u201cCall to Arms, 2015-2025\u201d (2025 (photo Tara Ann Dalbow\/<\/span><i><em class=\"italic\">Hyperallergic<\/em><\/i><span>)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"the-importance-of-making-%E2%80%9Cdegenerate%E2%80%9D-art\">The Importance of Making \u201cDegenerate\u201d Art<\/h3>\n<p>Here, the term is reclaimed not as an insult but as an ethical position: art that refuses neutrality, civility, or institutional comfort. | Tara Anne Dalbow<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-white kg-cta-immersive  kg-cta-has-img  \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>SPONSORED<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/1-2400-x-1350-2.jpg\" alt=\"CTA Image\" data-image-dimensions=\"2400x1350\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>The Rubin\u2019s Annual Grant Program Funds Himalayan Art and Research<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>The 2026 grant cycle opens February 16. Submit a letter of intent by March 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                            Learn more<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"member-comment\">Member Comment<\/h2>\n<p>Nell Painter on Jennifer Samets \u201cBeer With a Painter: Mary Lovelace O\u2019Neal\u201d:<\/p>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-yellow\">\n<div class=\"kg-callout-text\">I have adored Mary Lovelace O&#8217;Neal&#8217;s work for over a quarter of a century and so am delighted to see her and it profiled here. She deserves infinitely more exposure and praise than has come to her, even now. I&#8217;m so glad she is still with us, still painting. Thank you<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Commenting privileges are reserved\u00a0for paid members.\u00a0Join us today!<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"community\">Community<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-68-1.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1100\" height=\"619\"><figcaption><span>Tina Rivers Ryan (photo via Penske Media Group)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"art-movements-another-artforum-editor-in-chief-is-out\">Art Movements: Another Artforum Editor-in-Chief Is Out<\/h3>\n<p>Tina Rivers Ryan steps down from the disgraced publication, the Studio Museum names three artists-in-residence, Queens Museum names a new leader, and a deeply unnecessary new Jeff Koons collab in our weekly roundup of industry news. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"a-view-from-the-easel\">A View From the Easel<\/h3>\n<p>This week, Ileana Garc\u00eda Magoda from Acatitl\u00e1n, Mexico, and Renee Levin from Rumson, New Jersey, experiment with papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 and crave natural light. &#8220;Getting sun helps me focus and acts as a warm-up before painting,\u201d says Garc\u00eda Magoda. Your studio could be next! <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"required-reading\">Required Reading <\/h3>\n<p>Gladys Nilsson subverts ageist myths, letters from children in ICE detention, Heathcliff and whiteness, To\u00f1ita at the Super Bowl, Japanese incense clocks, and more must-reads from around the internet. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"icymi\">ICYMI<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-73.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\"><figcaption><span>NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani addressing his supporters after his historic victory on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Selcuk Acar\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"dear-zohran-don%E2%80%99t-let-art-workers-down\">Dear Zohran, Don\u2019t Let Art Workers Down<\/h3>\n<p>Those of us in the cultural sector need you to enact a bold vision for the role of city government in fostering the arts and helping our communities thrive. | Sami Abu Shumays<\/p>\n<hr>\n<ul class=\"post-tags\">\n<li>\n                        Daily Newsletter\n                      <\/li>\n<li>\n                        Newsletter\n                      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<section class=\"gh-content gh-canvas is-body\">\n<p>It&#8217;s impossible to imagine New York City without art, or contemporary art without New York City. This is where you come to see the best of the best, or to take part in making it. This country\u2019s international\u00a0standing is down in\u00a0the gutter, thanks to Trump, but this city is still a living, rolling dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Right now, we&#8217;re waiting to see who&#8217;s going to be Mayor Mamdani&#8217;s pick for cultural affairs commissioner. It&#8217;s an important role that determines where the city&#8217;s budget priorities will lie and who&#8217;ll get a seat at the table. Gonzalo Casals, who served as culture commissioner under Mayor de Blasio, and Mauricio Delf\u00edn, who co-directs the Culture &amp; Arts Policy Institute with Casals, have some urgent thoughts on the matter. It&#8217;s a must-read not just for Zohran (send him a link if you&#8217;re on texting terms), but for everyone who cares about art in this city.    <\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief <\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-72-1.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\"><figcaption><span>Culture in Crisis rally at City Hall in March 2024 (photo courtesy New York City Council)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"nyc-deserves-a-culture-commissioner-who-cares\">NYC Deserves a Culture Commissioner Who Cares<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;New York\u2019s cultural life is not a luxury; it is civic infrastructure \u2014 how we make meaning, build belonging, improve community well-being, and create economic opportunities for all New Yorkers,&#8221; write Casals and Delfin, stressing the need for a &#8220;public counterpart who understands that progress is built with civil society.&#8221; \u00a0<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-white kg-cta-immersive  kg-cta-has-img  \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>SPONSORED<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/HyperallergicAd-2.jpg\" alt=\"CTA Image\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1308\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>Introducing the Hyper SoCal Initiative<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Discover your new favorite local art destination with Hyper SoCal! From unique neighborhood community centers to innovative contemporary art spaces, Hyper SoCal celebrates creative voices shaping our cultural landscape. Originated at Brand Library &amp; Art Center, this regional initiative spotlights the artists and spaces that help Southern California thrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                            Learn more<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"valentines-in-nyc\">Valentine&#8217;s in NYC<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/Vaginal_Davis_Selects_006_Version_2-2000x1600-1-1-1.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\"><figcaption><span>Vaginal Davis, \u201cThe Wicked Pavilion: Tween Bedroom\u201d (2021) (photo Steven Paneccasio, courtesy MoMA PS1<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"your-guide-to-a-sexy-artsy-non-boring-valentine%E2%80%99s-day-in-nyc\">Your Guide to a Sexy, Artsy, Non-Boring Valentine\u2019s Day in NYC<\/h3>\n<p>Celebrate Valentine&#8217;s Day like an art person should. A zine fair, an exhibition on sex and cults, and an on-demand love note written by a poet at the Brooklyn Museum are a few of Greta Rainbow&#8217;s suggestions for a satisfying Valentine&#8217;s. And don&#8217;t forget to love yourself, yes? <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"from-our-critics\">From Our Critics<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/dgart-1-1.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"><figcaption><span>Elana Mann, \u201cCall to Arms, 2015-2025\u201d (2025 (photo Tara Ann Dalbow\/<\/span><i><em class=\"italic\">Hyperallergic<\/em><\/i><span>)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"the-importance-of-making-%E2%80%9Cdegenerate%E2%80%9D-art\">The Importance of Making \u201cDegenerate\u201d Art<\/h3>\n<p>Here, the term is reclaimed not as an insult but as an ethical position: art that refuses neutrality, civility, or institutional comfort. | Tara Anne Dalbow<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-white kg-cta-immersive  kg-cta-has-img  \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>SPONSORED<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/1-2400-x-1350-2.jpg\" alt=\"CTA Image\" data-image-dimensions=\"2400x1350\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>The Rubin\u2019s Annual Grant Program Funds Himalayan Art and Research<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>The 2026 grant cycle opens February 16. Submit a letter of intent by March 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                            Learn more<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"member-comment\">Member Comment<\/h2>\n<p>Nell Painter on Jennifer Samets \u201cBeer With a Painter: Mary Lovelace O\u2019Neal\u201d:<\/p>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-yellow\">\n<div class=\"kg-callout-text\">I have adored Mary Lovelace O&#8217;Neal&#8217;s work for over a quarter of a century and so am delighted to see her and it profiled here. She deserves infinitely more exposure and praise than has come to her, even now. I&#8217;m so glad she is still with us, still painting. Thank you<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Commenting privileges are reserved\u00a0for paid members.\u00a0Join us today!<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"community\">Community<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-68-1.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1100\" height=\"619\"><figcaption><span>Tina Rivers Ryan (photo via Penske Media Group)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"art-movements-another-artforum-editor-in-chief-is-out\">Art Movements: Another Artforum Editor-in-Chief Is Out<\/h3>\n<p>Tina Rivers Ryan steps down from the disgraced publication, the Studio Museum names three artists-in-residence, Queens Museum names a new leader, and a deeply unnecessary new Jeff Koons collab in our weekly roundup of industry news. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"a-view-from-the-easel\">A View From the Easel<\/h3>\n<p>This week, Ileana Garc\u00eda Magoda from Acatitl\u00e1n, Mexico, and Renee Levin from Rumson, New Jersey, experiment with papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 and crave natural light. &#8220;Getting sun helps me focus and acts as a warm-up before painting,\u201d says Garc\u00eda Magoda. Your studio could be next! <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"required-reading\">Required Reading <\/h3>\n<p>Gladys Nilsson subverts ageist myths, letters from children in ICE detention, Heathcliff and whiteness, To\u00f1ita at the Super Bowl, Japanese incense clocks, and more must-reads from around the internet. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"icymi\">ICYMI<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/2026\/02\/image-73.png\" class=\"kg-image\" alt loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\"><figcaption><span>NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani addressing his supporters after his historic victory on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Selcuk Acar\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"dear-zohran-don%E2%80%99t-let-art-workers-down\">Dear Zohran, Don\u2019t Let Art Workers Down<\/h3>\n<p>Those of us in the cultural sector need you to enact a bold vision for the role of city government in fostering the arts and helping our communities thrive. | Sami Abu Shumays<\/p>\n<hr>\n<ul class=\"post-tags\">\n<li>\n                        Daily Newsletter\n                      <\/li>\n<li>\n                        Newsletter\n                      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<article class=\"gh-card post\">\n<figure class=\"gh-card-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/size\/w600\/2026\/02\/KAPOW-Naoto_Nakagawa_2026_Still_Life_With_Wine_Opener_Lemon_and_Pomegranate.jpg\" alt=\"Naoto Nakagawa 2026 Is on View at KAPOW\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gh-card-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"gh-card-title is-title\">Naoto Nakagawa 2026 Is on View at KAPOW<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gh-card-excerpt is-body\">The Lower East Side gallery presents new works by an artist who has shown in major US museums since the 1960s. The exhibition is open through February 22.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"gh-card-meta\"><span class=\"gh-card-author\">KAPOW<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"gh-card post\">\n<figure class=\"gh-card-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/size\/w600\/2026\/02\/2024_IDSVAStudentsatVeniceBiennale_photobyChristopherAndrew.jpg\" alt=\"The Biennale Certificate in Philosophy and Art\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gh-card-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"gh-card-title is-title\">The Biennale Certificate in Philosophy and Art<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gh-card-excerpt is-body\">The Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA) invites creatives from all backgrounds to apply for this four-day summer program in Venice.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"gh-card-meta\"><span class=\"gh-card-author\">Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA)<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"gh-card post\">\n<figure class=\"gh-card-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/size\/w600\/2026\/02\/2026-MVP-Hyperallergic-Announcement-Matthew-Bogdanos-001.jpg\" alt=\"Matthew Bogdanos Awarded Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History for Repatriation of Stolen Artifacts\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gh-card-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"gh-card-title is-title\">Matthew Bogdanos Awarded Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History for Repatriation of Stolen Artifacts<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gh-card-excerpt is-body\">The leader of the Manhattan DA\u2019s Antiquities Trafficking Unit is acknowledged for his lifelong dedication to recovering and safeguarding looted antiquities.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"gh-card-meta\"><span class=\"gh-card-author\">The Vilcek Foundation<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"gh-card post\">\n<figure class=\"gh-card-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/content\/images\/size\/w600\/2026\/02\/Alex_SCA_IMAGE.jpg\" alt=\"Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs at SFU\u2019s School for the Contemporary Arts\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gh-card-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"gh-card-title is-title\">Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs at SFU\u2019s School for the Contemporary Arts<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gh-card-excerpt is-body\">Transform your art practice with access to internationally-recognized faculty and state-of-the-art facilities in downtown Vancouver. MFA and MA applications are accepted through February 15.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"gh-card-meta\"><span class=\"gh-card-author\">Simon Fraser University<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/the-commisioner-we-need\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;&#8221;] Daily Newsletter The Commissioner We Need Who should lead arts and culture in NYC, Valentine&#8217;s Day tips, and the sad state of Artforum. Hyperallergic February 13, 2026\u2014 4 min read It&#8217;s impossible to imagine New York City without art, or contemporary art without New York City. This is where you come to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,69],"class_list":["post-1770567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-hyperallergic-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1770567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1770567"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1770567\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1770567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1770567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1770567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}