As The Hollywood Reporter unveils its annual Oscars issue, we are proud to present the second edition of The Art of Oscar, a groundbreaking portfolio commissioned by Los Angeles-based writer and curator Michael Slenske that reimagines the iconic golden statuette through the eyes of 13 artists residing between Los Angeles and New York. From conceptual explorations of Hollywood’s power dynamics to whimsical and provocative reinventions of the trophy itself, this year’s featured artists push the boundaries of what it means to celebrate cinematic excellence and in 2025. The works in this expansive portfolio will be on view during LA Art Week at AF Projects in Hollywood, running through March 21. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity for the public to experience these thought-provoking interpretations up close. “What does it mean to celebrate Hollywood greatness in the year 2025?” asks artist Grant Levy-Lucero, whose Oscar takes the form of a tipsy ceramic decanter—an invitation to “take a big ole swig of the good stuff ” while contemplating the state of the industry. Each artist brings their own personal history and multimedia process to the project: Kathryn Andrews, a central figure in LA’s Grief x Hope fire relief effort, presents a provocative poster—free for visitors to take—that challenges the patriarchy in Hollywood by honoring female Academy Award winners; Ken Gun Min, who worked for Lucasfilm in a previous life, paints an Oscar immersed in a fiery Los Angeles landscape, embellished with embroidery and crystals, a nod to both the beauty and chaos of the city at this moment; Austyn Weiner revisits a signature postcard project with a collection of risqué Oscar-themed notes that redefine the acceptance speech; Elliott Hundley constructs a towering 10-foot fringed Oscar totem that merges the festive with the mythological; Rob Pruitt assembles a shrine adorned with Oscars sourced entirely from eBay, transforming Hollywood nostalgia into a playful, curated experience; Drake Carr forges a mythological figure from an age-old Oscar ballet; Umar Rashid concocts a fever dream-infused narrative painting informed by pop culture and art history; Rogan Gregory pays tribute to “achievement in art forms portraying a society just past the golden age of its existence” with a clay totem that appears to be unearthed from an ancient civilization; Conrad Ruiz envisions the statuette as the alter ego of Los Angeles, the city and its cinematic soul have been scarred by fire in recent years, yet the statuette remains a symbol of resilience; Sachi Moskowitz reimagines Oscar through the lens of Nike of Samothrace, the Greek goddess of victory; and Ellen Jong crafts a striking sculptural ink fountain “Oscar’ella” as a tribute to the films that shaped her. The Art of Oscar: 2025 continues to explore the intersection of contemporary art and Hollywood, elevating the conversation around cinema’s most coveted award. As these artists remind us, the Oscar is more than just a trophy—it is a reflection of ambition, desire, and the evolving narratives that define our culture. For more information and inquiries about the works in The Art of Oscar please contact Lauri Firstenberg and JB Bogulski at AF Projects: Laurif1@me.com; jbbogulski@gmail.com; 213-479-2610