Rudolf Stingel's Untitled (1994–96) Courtesy of Paula Cooper Gallery, New York

Rudolf Stingel, the art critics' darling whose highly anticipated retrospective opened this weekend at the Whitney, has a funny way of exploring artistic process. While he's best known for his colossal minimalist constructions (Styrofoam "canvases," transformative installations — both of which are on view at the Whitney), we kind of like the look of this multitasking Buddha: a tranquil (though perhaps maniacal) take on artistic apprenticeship. —Rachel Wolff