slotsdreamer 71 Photographs That Defined the Year in Arts

Compiled by Laura O’NeillJolie Ruben and Amanda Webster

WinterImage“I’m not going to go into this aging process silently or happily,” said the artist Cindy Sherman, who emerged from a creative slump with electrifying new work.Credit...Caroline Tompkins for The New York Times

“Because Cindy Sherman is the model in her photographs, I was worried that every ‘straight’ image of her could be another character she is portraying. I decided to pick up some props like fake noses and makeup, with the idea that her transition from one character to the next was more of a true portrait than something straight on.” — Caroline Tompkins on photographing Cindy Sherman

ImageThe stars come out for the Oscars and the Golden Globes.Credit...Sinna Nasseri for The New York Times

“I read a comment that said my award show photos ‘look like they were taken by someone being dragged away by security.’ I do feel an urgency while photographing, as if the present moment is being wrenched away. There’s a lot that goes unseen at these events — life is so rich if you look closely.” — Sinna Nasseri on photographing behind the scenes at the Oscars and the Golden Globes

ImageThe Irish actor Paul Mescal starred in the drama “All of Us Strangers” and then in the Ridley Scott epic “Gladiator II.”Credit...Ryan Pfluger for The New York TimesImageThe cast of the Broadway musical “The Outsiders,” based on S.E. Hinton’s 1967 novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film adaptation, visited locations at which Coppola had filmed, including Tulsa, Okla.Credit...Adali Schell for The New York TimesImageHer music has a reputation for being serious, but in person Adrianne Lenker is much more off the cuff. “I still like looking at the world around me with softness and an open heart,” she said.Credit...Erinn Springer for The New York TimesImageFor her role as Shug Avery in “The Color Purple,” Taraji P. Henson wrote out a back story: “Yes, things are in the book, but then I add my special sauce.”Credit...Erik Carter for The New York TimesImageAlexei Ratmansky, arguably the most important ballet choreographer today, made a deeply personal work as artist in residence with New York City Ballet. The piece, “Solitude,” reflected his Ukrainian roots and premiered in February.Credit...Geordie Wood for The New York TimesImageChloë Sevigny starred alongside Calista Flockhart, Diane Lane, Demi Moore and Naomi Watts in Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology series “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.”Credit...Thea Traff for The New York Times

“Photographers often use Makita leaf blowers to create movement in people’s hair. The hand-held machines are very loud, so they’re often met with a lot of laughter as you point the hose directly into the subject’s face. But Sevigny doubled down on her fierceness, giving me this statuesque look.” — Thea Traff on photographing Chloë Sevigny

SpringImageLita Albuquerque’s “Malibu Line,” a reconceived work of land art, photographed in progress in June. The blue river of color is sited about 20 miles from her original 1978 earthwork, which disappeared after two years under grass and wildflowers. “The beauty of the ephemeral is what it teaches us about nature,” she said.Credit...Chantal Anderson for The New York Times

“When I rolled up to Lita’s property the entire landscape was enveloped in a dense fog. The original Malibu Line piece from 1978 was documented on a blue-sky, clear day, with Lita’s blue line cascading into the Pacific Ocean in the distance. As Lita began laying down her pigment I realized the fog would make the blue electric, buzzing and alive, in a way previously unseen.” — Chantal Anderson on photographing Lita Albuquerque’s artwork

Image“Inside Light,” which ran at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan this year, is a theatrical presentation of electronic music from “Licht,” or “Light,” Karlheinz Stockhausen’s monumental, impractical cycle of seven operas.Credit...Balarama Heller for The New York TimesImageBefore Emma D’Arcy took on the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” the actor wrote a list of pros and cons to taking the job. The pros won out. For Season 2, which premiered in June, D’Arcy reigned at the top of the call sheet.Credit...Jesse Glazzard for The New York TimesVideoJoseph Gordon performing a section from “Solitude,” Alexei Ratmansky’s dance for New York City Ballet, a reaction to the horrors of the war in Ukraine.CreditCredit...Stephan Alessi for The New York TimesImage“Here in the Pitch,” the fourth album from the folk singer and songwriter Jessica Pratt, was released in May. “I’m very specific about what needs to be done, probably to a degree that is difficult for those around me,” Pratt told us.Credit...Sinna Nasseri for The New York TimesImageNathan Zellner, dressed as a sasquatch, on the loose in Manhattan to promote the film “Sasquatch Sunset,” which he directed with his brother, David.Credit...Brian Karlsson for The New York Times

“You might expect that a mythical creature appearing in Central Park would strike fear in the citizens of New York. In fact, it was greeted largely with joy, amusement and wonder. As we crossed from the west to the east through the Ramble, bird-watchers turned into Bigfoot-hunters, tourists laughed and smiled, and dog-walkers and their dogs stopped to stare.” — Brian Karlsson on photographing Nathan Zellner dressed as a sasquatch

ImageFrom left, Josh O’Connor, Zendaya and Mike Faist, who played three entangled tennis pros in Luca Guadagnino’s romantic sports drama “Challengers.”Credit...Chantal Anderson for The New York TimesImageThe climactic fight scene in “The Outsiders” on Broadway — known as the rumble — demanded the wholehearted effort of the cast and crew.Credit...Amir Hamja/The New York TimesImage“There was something about that part that was so un-pin-downable,” Eddie Redmayne said of the Emcee in “Cabaret,” which he played on Broadway this year. “He lives in abstraction.”Credit...Dana Scruggs for The New York Times

“When I made this image, Eddie was playing the Emcee in ‘Cabaret,’ a character that presents ever-changing versions of himself throughout the show. The shadowy exposures of Eddie could be perceived as a reference to the role that he was playing, but I view it as more of a representation of the many facets of Eddie that he carries within himself.” — Dana Scruggs on photographing Eddie Redmayne

Twelve shows opened over nine days in April, making it the busiest week on Broadway.Credit...Landon Nordeman for The New York Times

“What I discovered over those nine days is an extremely passionate community — and that behind each Broadway show, is a ton of hard work and dedication and team effort. I discovered that the live audience is kind of a community, too — in their theater seats to celebrate the stories, the music, the performers and the people that they love.” — Landon Nordeman on photographing 12 openings during the busiest week on Broadway

ImageThe Irish stage actor Anthony Boyle broke out on TV this year in the historical series “Masters of the Air” and “Manhunt.” “I never felt like there was like a backup plan,” he said, adding, “It was always just acting.”Credit...Max Miechowski for The New York TimesImageAnya Taylor-Joy played the title character in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” the newest film in George Miller’s long-running action series. “I’ve never been more alone than making that movie,” she told us.Credit...Ariel Fisher for The New York TimesImageThe Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, whose conceptual artwork “Comedian” — a fruit-stand banana taped on the wall, a piece that had stirred controversy in the art world for years — sold for $6.2 million.Credit...Vincent Tullo for The New York Times

“Maurizio rode his bike to the gallery and showed up with an endless source of energy. This carried through our whole shoot, with him coming up with his own wild ideas, such as proceeding to choke himself, completely unprompted.” — Vincent Tullo on photographing Maurizio Cattelan

The airline said on Thursday that it would begin selling vacation packages and was partnering with international airlines, starting with a connection in Baltimore via Icelandair next year. It also announced a $2.5 billion share repurchase program and plans for operational changes, including speeding up how long it takes to get planes back in the air after they have landed and finding other ways to reduce costs.

ImageFKA twigs made her debut as a dancer in April, with the Graham company in the solo “Satyric Festival Song.” “To me, this is, honestly, like winning a Grammy,” she said.Credit...Caroline Tompkins for The New York Times

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

Want all of The Times? Subscribe.slotsdreamer