Artsy Fartsy
A personal list of artists I love, found through curiosity, travel, and a lot of looking (and scrolling)
These days, art is my escape. I’m drawn to anything non-digital. It’s one of the few things that can get me out in ten-degree weather on a Saturday. Art moves me. It makes me feel. Like movies and theater, it takes me somewhere else entirely.
When I travel, I’ll plan an entire day around a specific gallery show or art fair. There’s nothing more thrilling than discovering an artist at a remote gallery, up a five-story walk-up, halfway across the world.
If you’ve followed me on Instagram, both personally and through KULE, you know that I am an art enthusiast. Over the years, I’ve used social media to connect with artists whose work I love. It’s been an incredible tool, allowing me not only to follow their work but also to get to know them, visit their studios, see them at work, and, in some cases, form real friendships.
Consider this a list of artists who are forever favorites. Some I’ve loved for years, and others I’ve discovered more recently through galleries, fairs, and travel.
You probably recognize Tanya Ling’s work from the KULE Instagram. I’m obviously connected to it. Can you guess why? I can stare into her paintings forever. The way she paints is an artform in itself.
I’ve known Tanya for several years now and had the privilege of visiting her studio in London. Seeing all of her work together in one room, with paint splattered on the floors, the shoes, and the walls, doesn’t get more thrilling than that. Now that I know her, I love the whole package even more.
Gideon Rubin is a painter whose work I fell in love with immediately. I first discovered his work at Art Basel Miami in 2023 and visited his London studio in 2024. Again, when you see all the art together in their personal space, it makes you look at it differently.
My favorite discovery about Gideon when I met him in person was that he’s bald, and yet nobody paints hair better than he does!
Karyn Lyons, what can I say? No one packs a punch into a single painting, capturing both a moment and a feeling, quite like she does. Every work feels intentional and thoughtful. Cinematic and deeply intimate at the same time. Her paintings feel so familiar to me, each taking me back to a time and place that feels good.
She paints her subjects so beautifully that you want to wear their clothes and live in their impeccably decorated rooms. I feel deeply connected to her work, and after meeting her, I understand why.
I first met Sydney Albertini years ago at her home and studio in Amagansett. I was immediately drawn to her oil-on-paper works. She had me at the striped details and fabric renderings. Another guess as to why?
When one of Sydney’s pieces hung on the wall at KULE’s former Rockefeller Center store, customers consistently asked about it. We even had the pleasure of interviewing her for an earlier iteration of O BOY back in 2021.
I was introduced to the work of Copenhagen-based artist Mie Olise Kjærgaard by Michael Nevin from The Journal Gallery. Her paintings are figurative, often depicting women in motion and usually playing sports. They’re fast and dynamic, with a hint of humor and a lot of energy. They make me want to dance or move, always a good thing.
Above are works by a few more artists I wanted to share with you, who are currently on my list and radar. Some you may know, some you may not. They each have an element or detail that strikes me: a punch of color, an engaging figure, an expression, a fashion item, or a stripe (shocker!).
There are also specific people, galleries, and curators whose taste I genuinely enjoy and trust. Over the years of scrolling, I’ve figured out my favorite go-tos for recommendations and discovery. Places like Turn Gallery, Lévy Gorvy Dayan, Onna House, The Journal Gallery, and Dobrinka Salzman offer amazing curation and selection of artwork by artists. I’m always waiting to see who they show next. And people and magazines with a discerning eye for art and who are always incredible resources for shows, new artists, and generally fun follows: Gisela Gueiros (who gives great art tours in NYC), Lisa Perry, Artsy, Art Partner, Cultured Magazine, and The Cultivist. And these are just a few.
There are also two retail stores worth mentioning that I go to for small pieces by local artists. General Store in Venice Beach, which offers unique paintings and sculptures, and Oroboro Store in NYC, whose founder, April Hughes, has such a good eye. I always find something I love.
And a fun Sunday sign-off: what are your thoughts on white shoes in colder months? I love them. The minute I saw the white flats at the Celine Spring 2026 show, I entered white-shoe land. Here are some recs you can wear now with socks (grey or black if you want to tone things down), and later on their own or with something brighter once it warms up. Make sure the rest of your outfit is toned down. It’s all about the shoe.
See you next time!
xo,
Nikki Kule
I wish I could ‘heart’ this post multiple times.
Love this post so much. And your eye for art is just the best!