Pulitzer-Winning Washington Post Art Critic Laid Off in Cutbacks

Sebastian Smee let go, but Philip Kennicott remains on staff at the newspaper

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The Washington Post has laid off around 30% of its staff, including Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Sebastian Smee, while fellow critic Philip Kennicott remains on staff. The cuts come just days after the release of a controversial documentary produced by Amazon MGM Studios, which is owned by Jeff Bezos, the Post's billionaire owner.

Why it matters

The layoffs at the Washington Post, one of the country's most prestigious newspapers, reflect the ongoing challenges facing the media industry, particularly as large tech companies like Amazon expand into content production. The loss of experienced critics like Smee is a blow to the paper's arts coverage and raises concerns about the future of in-depth arts journalism.

The details

The Washington Post laid off more than 300 of its approximately 800 journalists on Wednesday, with steep cuts to the paper's sports, local news, and international coverage. Among those let go was Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Sebastian Smee, who had been on staff since 2018. Remaining on staff is another Pulitzer winner, art and architecture critic Philip Kennicott.

  • The Washington Post layoffs occurred on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.
  • Smee's final review for the Post was published shortly before his layoff.

The players

Sebastian Smee

A Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic who was on staff at the Washington Post since 2018.

Philip Kennicott

A Pulitzer Prize-winning art and architecture critic who remains on staff at the Washington Post.

Jeff Bezos

The billionaire owner of the Washington Post and CEO of Amazon, which recently produced a controversial documentary about Melania Trump.

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What they’re saying

“I had eight wonderful years at the Post, which paid for me to travel to great museums around the country and even internationally, so I'll always be grateful.”

— Sebastian Smee, Former Washington Post Art Critic (ARTnews)

“Especially to Marty Baron who brought me from the Boston Globe, having earlier brought me to Boston from Australia. There is nothing of which I am prouder than having worked under his great leadership for a big part of my career. My heart goes out to all my colleagues who have lost their jobs. I hope people will support the superb journalists and other staffers who remain. They do incredible work every day.”

— Sebastian Smee, Former Washington Post Art Critic (ARTnews)

What’s next

The Washington Post has not announced any immediate plans to replace the laid-off critics or expand its arts coverage in the wake of the cuts.

The takeaway

The layoffs at the Washington Post, including the loss of Pulitzer-winning art critic Sebastian Smee, highlight the ongoing challenges facing the media industry and the potential impact on in-depth arts journalism as large tech companies like Amazon expand their influence.