Although Saltz blasts the usual targets — speculative collectors, unscrupulous auction houses, gender bias at museums — the tenor is overwhelmingly positive. This might come as a surprise to Saltz readers who know him as an irascible, post-first-think-later firebrand on social media. - The New York Times
Powell narrated her struggles in the kitchen in a funny, lacerating voice that struck a nerve with a rising generation of disaffected contemporaries. The Julie/Julia Project became a popular model for other blogs, replicated by fans, and helped build the vast modern audience. - The New York Times
"A devoted student of ancient Greek and Latin, the Jesuit-trained Cahill worked in journalism and publishing before becoming a full-time author. Capitalizing on the phenomenal success of How the Irish Saved Civilization, ... he wrote five more books about key moments in the development of Western civilization." - MSN (The Washington Post)
The co-star of The Shining, Popeye, and a slew of Robert Altman films had retired in 2002 after a career that attracted high praise from many and withering scorn from some — and she has evidently been struggling with mental illness for several years since then. - Deadline
At 79, Geffen has planted himself into the pantheon of leading American philanthropists. He has handed out $1.2 billion over the past 25 years to museums, theaters, concert halls, universities and medical centers and pledged to “give away” a fortune estimated to be $7.7 billion. - The New York Times
At 65, Steve Keene may still be New York’s most prolific painter, and certainly the one most beloved in ’90s indie-rock circles. A college radio D.J. in his native Virginia, he got his start showcasing his paintings in scuzzy bars during his favorite bands’ sets, and did album art and commissions. - The New York Times
Lewis ultimately transcended category. With typical arrogance, he would frequently declare that there were only four real stylists in American music: Al Jolson, Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams and, of course, Jerry Lee Lewis. - Variety
“Tár” is a tantalizing example: an elite acting talent taking on a rarefied slice of the classical music world. The preparations Ms. Blanchett and her collaborators did behind the scenes mirrored aspects of the story, which involves the painstaking work of creation and rehearsal. - The Wall Street Journal
"In France, Soulages has obtained legendary status for his sleek abstractions, which enact elegant plays between light and dark simply by juxtaposing uneven black strokes. He ... was once described by François Hollande, the former Prime Minister of France, as the 'greatest living painter.'" - ARTnews
"It’s not like I didn’t attempt; I couldn’t finish a thought. I would begin something and then stop halfway because I’d think it was meaningless. Gradually, I started to enjoy the process and started to work on these half-baked ideas until I finished baking them." - San Francisco Classical Voice
Likability has always been important in talk-show hosts, but balanced by other virtues like creativity, funniness, political or even journalistic insight, the ability to connect emotionally. - The New York Times
"(His) work exposed L.A.'s social fractures and disquieted its most ardent boosters, and (his) mark on the intellectual history of Southern California remains indelible. ... Though best known for City of Quartz, Davis wrote more than a dozen notable books over his more than four-decade career." - Yahoo! (Los Angeles Times)
"The Paper Chase became a sort of pre-law school bible that students read before embarking on a career in law. One of them was Mr. Osborn’s daughter, who enrolled at Harvard Law School in 2003." - MSN (The Washington Post)
"After a late start in his performing career, (he) became a recognizable face from roles on numerous television shows, most notably Will & Grace, then achieved even more fame during the pandemic when his quirky homemade videos attracted millions of Instagram followers." - The New York Times
