Romello Goodman

My practice in 2025 & Beyond

December 31, 2025

Painting saved me, but I can’t say I loved painting. I painted because I needed to. What I really loved, what I love, is having-painted. That was the high. Making something that would never have existed in the entirety of humanity had I not been there at that specific moment to make it.

-Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

This has been the biggest shift in my practice this year: I fell in love with the after-making. I’ve spent a large amount of time examining my work, explaining it to others, and reflecting on what it means to me. Giving the Scrimshaw lecture at the beginning of the year put me into this mindset, and it’s been lovely to sit in it.

This year my practice expanded to include artist books and zines, paper reliefs, a new art stack, and so much more. I feel more confident than ever in my ability to make art and express my ideas. Reading back on past year-end reflections, it’s fun to realize that each year I spill words to write about the same thing: wanting to make more work, and figuring out the artistic systems I need to put in place to achieve that desire.

For the next year my intention remains the same. I hope to make more work. I hope to make bigger work. And I hope to find people who connect with my work. No need for a musical reference this year about being a conductor and orchestrating a practice. Just a wish said plainly and released into the world.

Past years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Graphic of the year

Untitled, 2025. 11x14 inches. Ink on translucent overlayed on-top of Risograph Ink

Book Superlatives

Most likely to live up to the hype: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Most likely to please the book club: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Most likely to make you think: Fantasy by Bruno Munari

Most likely to make you cry - Clementine, Book 3 by Tillie Walden

Most likely to expand your practice - Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.: Citizen Printer by Letterform Archive

Most Visually Stunning (Tie) - Absolute Man Hunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez and The Power Fantasy by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard

Best New Series (Tie) - Absolute Man Hunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez and The Power Fantasy by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard

Best Reread - Finna by Nate Marshall

Best Marathon Read - Tsubasa by CLAMP

Best of Non-Books

Music Video - THAT GUY - Tyler the Creator

Song - Dr. Britt Baker - Westside Gunn ft DJ Drama

Album - Let God Sort Em Out - The Clipse

Artist of the year - Westside Gunn

Newsletter - Garbage Day

Podcast - Articles of interest

Movie - Weapons

Game - Hollow Knight: Silksong

TV Show - The Studio

-Mello

P.S.