Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Gilbert & George's Not-So-Sober Curators

April 28, 2011 by Marion Maneker

The Independent tells the story of how the Tate developed such close relationship with the artists Gilbert & George that culminated in the 2007 retrospective that was the largest of any single artist mounted at the Museum. It all began with a long boozy lunch that nearly decimated the museum’s T&E budget:

In 1974, Tate employees, including Anne d’Offay, wife of the influential art dealerAnthony d’Offay, entertained the pair with a lunchtime binge. The artists drank “the majority” of three bottles of wine and 12 glasses of vintage port. The corresponding expense claim, 8 per cent of the Tate’s annual budget for entertaining, angered senior figures at the gallery.

“Unfortunately, Gilbert and George consumed an astronomical amount of drink,” said Mrs d’Offay, the Tate curator who submitted the expenses claim. “You can imagine that it was impossible to stop them ordering without creating a rumpus. […]

Two years after the meal, the Tate acquired Gilbert and George’s 1972 film, Gordon’s Makes Us Drunk, which shows the pair getting drunk on Gordon’s Gin. It was one of their significant early successes, cementing a close relationship with the gallery that has continued for nearly 40 years.

Gilbert and George and the Night They Drank the Tate Dry (Independent)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • An Art Fair? An Auction? An Exhibition? Sotheby’s Is Doing All Three at Once Online for Old MastersAn Art Fair? An Auction? An Exhibition? Sotheby’s Is Doing All Three at Once Online for Old Masters
  • Your Biannual Reminder that Venice Is for SellingYour Biannual Reminder that Venice Is for Selling
  • Masriadi SpeaksMasriadi Speaks
  • Another Way to be An Artist
  • Artelligence for July 18, 2018Artelligence for July 18, 2018
  • Man Ray Trust Finds a Way To Market at Sotheby’s ParisMan Ray Trust Finds a Way To Market at Sotheby’s Paris

Filed Under: Artists

About Marion Maneker

LiveArt

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor