As 2026 approaches, I always find myself building a fresh stack of books. I look for titles that spark something, shift my thinking, or nudge me back into a more intentional creative life. This year, I’ve handpicked five to help me start the new year with clarity and curiosity. Each one opens a different doorway into making, noticing, and exploring, which feels like the right energy to carry into January.

Here’s a closer look at all five. Let’s get reading. 📚

Copenhagen eases into your senses quietly and intentionally. During my recent visit, I found myself moving at an easier pace, noticing more, and wondering how an entire city manages to feel so balanced, thoughtful, and happy.

Recently named the Happiest City in the World for 2025, Copenhagen lives up to the title in ways that feel thoughtful and grounded. After wandering through its neighborhoods, canals, bakeries, museums, and public spaces, these are the moments that stayed with me.

Despite the 110+ degree summer heat here in Phoenix, my studio has been buzzing with energy, ideas, and clay-covered hands. What began as a simple experiment with four wheel-thrown, donut-shaped forms quickly turned into a deeper exploration of shape, meaning, and story.

More than 15 years had passed since my first visit to Mexico City, and this year, I felt the pull to return. I had two great reasons: celebrating my birthday and attending Zona Maco, Latin America’s biggest contemporary art fair. I traveled with two close friends—one a regular visitor to CDMX, the other experiencing it for the first time—so we had a lot of ground to cover in just three and a half days.

Athens. Just saying the name pulls you back through time—temples on the hill, philosophers in the Agora, gods in marble. It’s one of those cities that lives vividly in the imagination, and being there in person? Even better.

Morocco was a sensory rush from start to finish. We explored five cities in ten days, each bursting with energy, history, and intoxicating color.

For my mom’s 80th birthday, my brother and I wanted to do something unforgettable. Egypt had always been high on her list, so we made it happen—a trip that turned out to be as meaningful as it was awe-inspiring.

Naoshima Island, also known as Art Island, in Japan's Seto Inland Sea is an inspiring haven where art, architecture, and nature seamlessly converge.