American Art Magazine's Autumn "Iconic Figures" Edition Highlights Paul Pfeiffer, Rosemarie Trockel, Blindness and Photography, Among Other Notable Entries

In the current issue of Art in America, readers are treated to a captivating crash course on anti-fascist art history, curated by Ara H. Merjian. This compelling selection of artists challenges conventional norms and offers a fresh perspective on the role of art in society.

The issue also features a diverse array of artists, including Tehching Hsieh, Emily Watlington, Beatrice Loayza, Katja Seib, Malick Sidibé, Maximilián Durón, and Consuelo Jimenez Underwood. Unfortunately, the specific list of artists included in the features of the latest issue as of September 2025 was not provided in the search results.

Tehching Hsieh, a renowned artist, views art as the more groundbreaking and creative part of freethinking. He believes that freethinking is something everyone does, and his work reflects this belief.

Emily Watlington offers lessons for staying curious and weird in "The Auto-Iconoclast" feature. Beatrice Loayza explores how rituals and religion haunt sports and movies in "Sporty Specters."

The article also includes a piece titled "Battle Royale" about Monet and Manet, two famous French painters. David Diao, whose painting is featured on the cover of A.i.A, has spent a good portion of his career referencing the work of Barnett Newman, describing Newman's painting style as "unfussy" and "just what needs to be done."

Malick Sidibé is described as an architect of utopia and purveyor of nostalgia. Katja Seib's work is highlighted as painting canvases of pure color and mild mysticism.

The late sculptor Joel Shapiro discovered how "transformation happens" when working physically with wood. Maximilián Durón weaves through the complexities of the US-Mexico border in "Follow the Threads." Consuelo Jimenez Underwood found her artistic voice in textiles, stating that she had to be "puro hilo" [pure thread] to get the "viejitas" [female elders] on her side.

Alex Greenberger discusses David Diao's hijacking of the history of modernism to make it more inclusive in "A Matter of Fact." Dara Birnbaum is honored with a tribute for her work that talked back to media and imagined new transmissions for the future.

Louis Bury discusses the issue of art being behind the times in an age of constant updates and endless microtrends. Eric Fischl's Barbecue is the subject of an annotation by Francesca Aton.

In the "Inquiry" column, Tehching Hsieh discusses his yearlong performance works. The article also includes reviews for exhibitions in Berlin, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Miami, Santa Fe, and Toledo. Okwui Enwezor's Selected Writings are also reviewed in the article.

Paul Pfeiffer became hyper-aware of the grammar of images and the way one could engineer attention through subtle changes while working on his early video pieces. This issue of Art in America offers a compelling exploration of the intersection between art, history, and society, providing readers with a thought-provoking and engaging reading experience.

American Art Magazine's Autumn "Iconic Figures" Edition Highlights Paul Pfeiffer, Rosemarie Trockel, Blindness and Photography, Among Other Notable Entries