8 Art Shows Fueling My Inspiration This August

In the constant rush of building a business and a life you love, it’s easy to get stuck in the weeds. We live in our inboxes, chained to our calendars, and forget where the real breakthroughs happen: not at our desks, but out in the world, engaging with big, challenging, beautiful ideas.

For me, art isn't just a passion; it's a non-negotiable part of my success strategy. It’s where I go to see how visionaries solve problems, challenge conventions, and build legacies. A single powerful piece can unlock a new perspective on branding, leadership, or the very nature of the hustle.

This is my personal hot list for August—the exhibitions across the country that are sparking my curiosity and fueling my creativity. Here's what's on my radar, and the founder-focused lessons I'm taking from each.

Andy Warhol, Female Head With Flowers And Full Figure, (1955)

1. Andy Warhol: The Original Influencer

Where: Anton Kern Gallery, New York

The Lowdown: Before the Campbell's Soup Cans, there was Warhol the commercial illustrator, hustling in 1950s NYC. This show, "Andy Warhol: Fashion," features his early, captivating line drawings and reveals his fascination with style long before he became a Pop Art icon.

Justyna’s Take: This is a masterclass in playing the long game. Warhol used his commercial work to perfect his craft and build his network, eventually blurring the lines between art and commerce so completely that he created a new paradigm. It's a powerful reminder that the work you do today, even the "commercial" stuff, is the foundation for the empire you're building tomorrow.

Through August 13

Steve Keister, Xoloitzcuintl, (2024).

2. Carmen Winant: The Power of the Female Gaze

Where: Patron, Chicago

The Lowdown: Winant gathers instructional images from women's health clinics and feminist communities to create stunning, large-scale photomontages. Her show, "Manuals for Living," explores how images shape our ideas of women's power, healing, and freedom.

Justyna’s Take: This resonates so deeply with my mission at WE RULE. Winant is proving that how we see ourselves and each other directly shapes our reality. By re-contextualizing these images, she’s building a new visual language for female power. It's a lesson for every female leader: control the narrative, own your image, and build a community that reflects the future you want to create.

Through August 16

Laurie Simmons, Autofiction: Cocktail Party/Tell Me Everything, (2025).

3. Laurie Simmons: Innovating with New Tools

Where: Baldwin Gallery, Aspen

The Lowdown: A key member of the "Pictures Generation," Simmons has always used surrogate figures like dolls to comment on gender and domesticity. In her new show, she’s revisiting her old themes but using new tools—specifically, AI text-to-image models—and mixing media like fabric and glass into her photography.

Justyna’s Take: This is how a legacy artist stays relevant. Instead of fearing new technology like AI, Simmons is bending it to her will, using it to push her legendary creative vision into new territory. It's the ultimate inspiration for any founder: don't get replaced by new tools, become the master of them.

Through September 1

Wendy Park, Health Care, (2025).

4. Wendy Park: The Beauty of the Immigrant Hustle

Where: Various Small Fires, Orange County

The Lowdown: Park’s vibrant paintings honor her Korean-American roots, depicting the storefronts, family routines, and social landscapes of her childhood in Los Angeles. Her work is a powerful, personal chronicle of the pursuit of the American Dream.

Justyna’s Take: This is pure entrepreneurial spirit, rendered in bold color. Park's work celebrates the local economies and immigrant labor that truly shape the American landscape. It's a tribute to the grind, the love, and the community-building that happens far away from boardrooms, reminding us that the most powerful brands are rooted in authentic stories.

Through August 16

Lidya Buzio, III, (2013).

5. Lidya Buzio: The Art of the Reinvention

Where: Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino, Houston

The Lowdown: After moving from Uruguay to New York in 1971, sculptor Lidya Buzio was so inspired by the urban environment that she completely transformed her work, painting her ceramic pots with vibrant cityscapes. Later in life, she moved again and reinvented her style once more.

Justyna’s Take: Buzio’s career is a roadmap for every founder. Your journey will demand reinvention. Moving to a new city, entering a new market, or facing a new challenge isn't a setback; it's a catalyst for your next great creative evolution. Be ready to adapt and let your environment inspire your next move.

Through August 30

Kevin Beasley, The beginning of you and the end of me, (2025).

6. Kevin Beasley: Building a Brand with Soul

Where: Regen Projects, Los Angeles

The Lowdown: Beasley creates incredible sculptures from found objects—clothing, T-shirts, durags—fusing them with resin to create ghostly forms that speak to personal memory, race, and American history.

The CEO’s Take: In a world of slick, soulless branding, Beasley’s work is a lesson in authenticity. He literally builds his personal history and cultural references into his art. It’s a powerful metaphor for leadership: the most resonant brands and careers are those built from real, meaningful materials, not just a polished facade.

Through August 16

Kees Goudzwaard, Rearranging Green, (2023).

7. Kees Goudzwaard: The Power of Perception

Where: Nunu Fine Art, New York

The Lowdown: Goudzwaard is a master of illusion. His abstract paintings look like they are made of layered paper and tape, but it’s all meticulously rendered by hand. He spends countless hours refining his compositions before ever touching the final canvas.

The CEO’s Take: This is planning and execution at the highest level. His process proves that what looks effortless is often the result of obsessive preparation. In business, perception is reality, and controlling that perception requires an incredible, almost invisible, attention to detail.

Through August 23

8. Steve Keister: Creating Modern Mythology

Carmen Winant, Did I truly think you could put me back inside?, (2025).

Where: Derek Eller, New York

The Lowdown: Inspired by Pre-Columbian art and mythology, Keister creates fantastical creatures from clay, cement, and wood that feel both ancient and futuristic.

The CEO’s Take: Keister isn't just making sculptures; he's world-building. He's creating a "cosmic realm" with its own gods and symbols. It's a profound reminder for every founder: are you just selling a product, or are you building a brand with its own mythology? The latter is what lasts for centuries.

Through August 22