ArtRKL Wrapped 2024

At ArtRKL, we published a lot of content throughout 2024. Approximately 130 articles, to be exact! So, we don’t blame you if you didn’t read everything we put out this year. That’s why we’ve asked each of our writers to select their favorite piece they wrote this year in our first annual ArtRKL Wrapped.

We’ve also asked our editor, Rebecca Katherine Levenson, to share her picks for the best pieces of content published on ArtRKL in 2024. Revisit some of our favorite essays, art history deep dives, artist profiles, and more you may have missed from us this year.

Each of our writers was invited to share the article they wrote this year that they are the most proud of. Although topics ranged from architecture to art history, one trend among our writers was that we loved the research process and diving deep into niches we discovered along the way. Here’s what team members had to say about their choices for their favorite piece in 2024.

The Fig Leaf Campaign: The Genesis of Art Censorship by Lily Frye

Is it brat summer or fig leaf campaign summer? In August, we delved deep into one of the first notable instances of art censorship in art history with Lily Frye. “[The Fig Leaf Campaign] signifies one of humanity’s first major experiences with censorship and the government controlling what the general populous consumes,” Frye explains. “It’s an unfortunate circumstance that we still experience today even after reflecting on the negative affects that stem from government censorship. My Fig Leaf Campaign article can also help explain why some artworks are the way they are. Because of the Campaign, many works of art still to this day have permanent fig leaves over body parts.”

Pin-Up Girls by Taylor Hunt

In February, we explored the history and significance of pin-up girls with Taylor Hunt. “In the research process, I felt such a close connection to and admiration for the three women artists who specialized in pin-up art. They were absolute badasses who had to have huge personalities to succeed in a men’s field.”

 Body Fluids in Art: HIV/AIDS and Blood by Jesslyn Low

In another entry to her long-running series on body fluids in art, Jesslyn Low covered how “artists have used blood in their art to share their experiences living in a world with HIV/AIDS.” Low elaborates that she chose this piece “not only because it's part of my larger ‘Body Fluids in Art’ series that I am very proud of but also because I think this topic specifically is really important.”

The Las Vegas Sphere by Rosella Parra

At the beginning of 2024, Rosella Parra guided us through the viral Las Vegas attraction: “Writing this article was very personal to me because I got to see the Las Vegas Sphere for myself a few months after it opened to the public. I have been going to Las Vegas, Nevada, for years, spending hours walking the strip. But oh my, was the Sphere a tribute to science, engineering, and [A.I.]. Something so tremendously new and unique!”

A Conversation with Crappy Cake Art by Louise Irpino

“I enjoyed my conversation with Anna Lasbury ( @crappycakeart ) so much! Hearing about her passion for spreading joy through her whimsical art reaffirmed why I love talking to artists about their work. I can’t wait to see what’s to come for Crappy Cake Art in 2025!”

Do ‘Evil’ Art Collectors Curate Better Art? by Emma Livingston

“This ‘hot take’ article explored a provocative question: Do evil art collectors curate better collections? The answer … seems to lean toward yes.” Emma Livingston says of her September commentary essay. “I chose this piece because it embodies three key elements that I believe ArtRKL values in our social media and magazine content: art history, humor, and a compelling, thought-provoking ‘hot-take’ concept. Writing it was not only a proud moment but also an enjoyable, creative process!”

 Art and Quantum Physics by Madelyn Kenney

“[The article] directly related to my ambitions for grad school, and it [was] published on my birthday,” Explains Madelyn Kenney about her piece from April, which includes insights from North Carolina State physics professor Dr. Lex Kemper.

Our editor and publisher, Rebecca Katherine Levinson, does it all. When she’s not curating our weekly newsletter for you every Friday, she’s editing, designing, and writing her own content for ArtRKL. We asked her to share her favorite pieces of the year that cover even more varied topics like film, pop culture, and social media. Here are her choices!

The 12 Best Shots in Film by Emma Segrest and Louise Irpino

Emma Segrest and I explored our picks for the 12 best film shots in this collaboration article, each choosing six shots. The films ranged from classic horror films like Rosemary’s Baby to modern French romances like Amelie and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. While we don’t cover film on ArtRKL too often, this piece reminded us how powerful and influential film can be on culture and society, just as traditional paintings can be.

 Why Does The Internet Love The Two-Thousand Yard Stare? by Louise Irpino

2024 was a big year for memes, and it should be no surprise that art and memes once again became intertwined this year. This article, being one of our most read this year, covers the increase in popularity of Thomas C. Lea III’s WWII-era work The Two-Thousand Yard Stare and its harrowing real-world history and usage within meme culture.

Luchita Hurtado: Earth & Sky Interjected by Rosella Parra

Our writers are located nationwide, so we are fortunate enough to cover all kinds of exhibitions and galleries. In September 2024, Rosella Parra visited the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico, to report on the exhibit “Luchita Hurtado: Earth & Sky Interjected.” The exhibit, which runs at the Harwood Museum until February 23, 2025, explores the work of Venezuelan artist Luchita Hurtado. Hurtado’s work mainly focused on nature and women’s bodies and included abstract geometric shapes. Parra’s review of this exhibit showcases how important these tributes to unknown and underappreciated artists can be. 

Art and True Crime: A Commentary/Discussion of Murderous Masterminds  by Madelyn Kenney

True crime is a huge industry, and many academics and amateurs alike have investigated why so many have a morbid curiosity about the subject. In this commentary, Madelyn Kenney brings something fresh to those who enjoy true crime: an art-centric analysis. Thoroughly detailing the lives and works of both historical and contemporary artists who have committed crimes, including Benvenuto Cellini, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Richard Dadd, Robert Durst, and Luis Jiménez.

Cowboy Core: Western Art History to Pop Culture by Emma Livingston

2024 was huge for fashion and cultural “aesthetics,” like coquette, dark academia, and cowboy core, as Emma Livingston covered. To examine the newfound interest and romanticization in all things Western, Livingston reminds us of the dark, violent history of real cowboys, which contributed to the displacement and murder of Indigenous populations.

5 Potters You Need to Follow on Instagram by Lily Frye

We love sharing our recommendations with you—whether it’s artists to follow, films we’ve discovered, or art-related video essays. With how fast-paced social media is, it can be easy to overlook quality content. In July, Lily Frye shared five potters to follow on Instagram, each with a unique and eye-catching style. These potters remind us of the magic that can come from an artist’s hands and a block of clay. This article showcases the works of Hazel Brady, Michelle Sieg, Dodo Chang, Aditi Mittal, and Laura Caporossi.

 Art and Alcohol by Taylor Hunt

Artists and creative people, in general, often get stuck with the reputation of being frequent substance abusers. This article from Taylor Hunt explores the relationship between art and alcohol and alcohol’s role as both a subject and a catalyst for creativity throughout history. Hunt explores paintings that feature the warmth, joy, and pleasure alcohol can bring and the dark, brooding feelings it fosters. 

Hairy Art by Jesslyn Low

Jesslyn Low is no stranger to covering “gross” and controversial art, as shown by her previously mentioned “body fluids in art” series. So, it shouldn’t shock our readers that hair in art is a thing (but we wouldn’t blame you if it was). Low brings us a selection of artworks that use hair in many ways. From a cup made out of hair to artists using their hair as sculpting material, the world of hair in art will no doubt continue to grow longer thanks to artists who want to explore eccentric materials in the pursuit of starting a conversation.

Whether you’ve been a long-time reader or are just now joining us, we hope you enjoyed reading our content as much as we loved researching and crafting it for you. Look out for more in-depth articles on trending art news, art history niches, fashion, music, and more from our writers in 2025!

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