In any given year there’s a handful of art shows that stick in your brain like a song you can’t quit humming. But 2016 brought even more of these exhibits than usual, and picking one for our annual version of high school yearbook superlatives was no easy feat. Luckily, Rob Matthews’ stellar solo show at David Lusk Gallery seared itself into our brains so deeply that, months later, its colors and shapes are still vivid enough to solidify its status as top dog. When it comes to combining smart storytelling and mind-blowing practical techniques, Matthews is peerless, and the large-scale works showcased in Dawn-Watchers Watch for the Dawn put those talents front and center. LAURA HUTSON
