Artist tips

This is part of Off Season Italy, a collection of guides highlighting the year-round appeal of Italy's most popular destinations, courtesy of our favorite local tastemakers. Read more here.

In the spring of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, the always bustling Dam Square in Amsterdam was deserted, silent and surrounded by concrete counterterrorism blocks. The Dutch street artist Frank de Ruwe, who goes by the name of Frankey, decided these daunting studded blocks resembled something more innocent — giant Lego blocks — and that the city needed something to lighten the gloom.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born in Málaga and spent most of his life in France, but it was arguably in Barcelona that his evolution as the most celebrated artist of the 20th century began.

A Chicago artist posted a photo of a rat-shaped hole in the ground, and it ended up going so viral that it helped him pay his rent.

Renowned Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota has shared her unique vision with Château Mouton Rothschild's 2021 label, creating a captivating artwork titled "Universe of Mouton." In this piece, Shiota masterfully captures the delicate relationship between humanity and nature, emphasizing the winery's commitment to embracing the natural conditions that influence grape growth.

Fiona Khuong-Huu, 16, is a pre-college student at The Julliard School and a guest artist and violinist who is part of the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts. The series is geared for children ages six and older and is a fantastic, fun way to introduce a younger generation to the world of classical music.

With a running time of more than eight hours, Andy Warhol's Empire is generally acknowledged to be the most boring film released in 1965. Four years later, a German artist named Hanne Darboven succeeded in producing a movie that was even more monotonous.

Bangkok-based typography artist and founder of The Only Market Bangkok, Maan Sriluansoi, is on a mission to shine a spotlight on life in the Thai capital. Driven by nostalgia, Sriluansoi has upended everyday objects into mementos for locals and in-the-know tourists, such as T-shirts emblazoned with ‘Bangkok Tourist’ and old-school enamel dinner sets. Using traditional Thai topography in his work, Sriluansoi recreates and embeds the ancient script in fresh new ways.

Easdale Island sounds almost mythical.

Elizabeth Stenne’s career painting bespoke pieces of art for some of the world’s most luxurious hotels spans more than three decades.

Every morning, the French-Iranian contemporary artist Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar enters his atelier nestled in the South of France, overlooking the stunning expanse of the ocean. Surrounded by nature, he immerses himself in meditation. This practice, honed over many years, has led him to his current success, transforming pain into purpose and creating a unique form of living art that embodies the energy of nature. At the age of 39, Behnam-Bakhtiar has already built a solid foundation as an acclaimed artist (including solo exhibitions with Sotheby’s Monaco and Philips London), known for transmuting the natural world he inhabits into an artistic experience.

Rita Carr said she'd always loved the idea of living and working on the road.

While most people deliberate for weeks, if not months, over moving to a new city or state, Thomas McEntee decamped to Stockholm from New York City practically overnight.

A newly decorated hotel suite in the heart of Manhattan offers travelers and locals the opportunity to escape into vibrancy and whimsical decor, all with the tap of a kay card.