Culture + Arts Speakers

Deep thinkers, artists, and influencers comprise our roster of arts author speakers. They share what’s new, captivating, and currently influencing cultural conversations.

Jane Fonda

Award-winning actress, bestselling author of My Life So Far, and fitness expert

Amanda Lucidon

Obama White House photographer, award-winning filmmaker, and New York Times-bestselling author

Jeff Tweedy

Grammy Award-winning musician and frontman of Wilco

More Culture + Arts Speakers

Peter Buffett

Emmy Award-winning musician, author, and philanthropist

Ed Catmull

Co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, former president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, and author of Creativity, Inc.

Ron Chernow

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Washington: A Life and Alexander Hamilton

Thomas Dyja

Author of The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream

Lisa Gardner

#1 New York Times-bestselling crime thriller novelist

Tess Gunty

National Book Award-winning author of The Rabbit Hutch

Mohsin Hamid

Bestselling author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, and Exit West

Lesley Hazleton

Award-winning journalist, historian, blogger, and author of The First Muslim

Cathy Park Hong

Award-winning poet and New York Times-bestselling author of Minor Feelings

Brian Jay Jones

Celebrated Biographer of Jim Henson, George Lucas, and Dr. Seuss

Valerie June

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

Chang-rae Lee

New York Times-bestselling author of The Surrendered and Native Speaker

Huey Lewis

Songwriter, actor, and lead singer for Huey Lewis and the News

Rebecca Makkai

Author of Pulitzer Prize-finalist The Great Believers and I Have Some Questions for You

Ian Manuel

Advocate for criminal justice reform, poet, and motivational speaker

Chanel Miller

Artist, activist, and author of the New York Times bestseller Know My Name

Joan Nathan

Expert in Jewish American cuisine and James Beard Award-winning author of Jewish Cooking in America

Jenny Odell

New York Times-bestselling author of How to Do Nothing and Saving Time

David Owen

The New Yorker staff writer and author of Green Metropolis and Volume Control

Priya Parker

Facilitator, strategic advisor, and acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering

Philippe Petit

Famous french high-wire artist and author of Creativity: The Perfect Crime

Najla Said

Actress, playwright and author of the memoir Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family

Jerry Saltz

Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic for New York magazine

Will Schwalbe

New York Times-bestselling author of We Should Not Be Friends

David Allen Sibley

The world's leading authority on birds and birding; author and illustrator

David Treuer

Author of The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee and Rez Life

Charlie Warzel

Award-winning technology reporter and co-author of Out of Office

Alice Waters

Chef, author, activist, and founder of Chez Panisse restaurant and the Edible Schoolyard Project

Michelle Zauner

Frontwoman of Japanese Breakfast and author of New York Times bestselling Crying in H Mart

Gabrielle Zevin

New York Times-bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow