Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

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

Why Do Critics Think the Market Taints a Curator?

July 27, 2015 by Marion Maneker

Christopher Knight ran a strange piece a few weeks ago complaining that commercial interests had crossed the line in American museums. One of his tendentious points of evidence was to complain that distinguished curator and scholar John Elderfield had been hired by the Princeton University Art Museum. What was Elderfield’s disqualification? Apparently creating well-regarded shows for a major commercial gallery negated the man’s 33-year tenure at the Museum of Modern Art.

Now here’s Rachel Donadio giving a very good overview of the Fondation Cartier show of 350 works of African artitsts called Beauté Congo:

Others questioned the possible commercial implications of the show, since Mr. Magnin acquired work by some of the artists featured here in building up the holdings of Jean Pigozzi, a businessman, with what Mr. Magnin said was the largest collection of African contemporary art in the world, with 12,000 works.

Hervé Chandès, the director of the Cartier Foundation, said he wasn’t concerned. “If André hadn’t been there, I couldn’t have done the exhibition,” he said. “I needed someone with the knowledge of the artistic life of Congo.”

Exploring a Century of Art From Congo  (NYTimes.com)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Auctionata Buys ValueMyStuff Auctionata Buys ValueMyStuff 
  • Per Skarstedt Buys His Dream HousePer Skarstedt Buys His Dream House
  • Is John Currin’s Work About Taste?Is John Currin’s Work About Taste?
  • Winter 2009 Impr/Mod Evening ResultsWinter 2009 Impr/Mod Evening Results
  • A Chinese Collector Goes Cutting Edge ContemporaryA Chinese Collector Goes Cutting Edge Contemporary
  • ArtList’s 3 Must See Shows: Art shows you can’t miss this week in New YorkArtList’s 3 Must See Shows: Art shows you can’t miss this week in New York

Filed Under: General

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