by Jerry Saltz
First published 2009
Jerry Saltz returns with his second collection of art criticism, following up his 2003 volume Seeing Out Loud. The New York magazine senior art critic and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist turns his sharp gaze toward recent developments where art meets commerce. Saltz brings his trademark blend of tough assessment and genuine affection for the art world, paired with humor that often targets himself. He examines both excellent work and spectacular failures in contemporary art. The critic explores the wild spending that marked recent years in galleries and auction houses. With financial excess now curtailed, Saltz poses crucial questions about how artists and institutions might rebuild and refocus. His accessible writing style makes complex art world dynamics clear to general readers. The book captures a pivotal moment when the art market faced a reckoning.
Genres: art, non-fiction, criticism, 21st-century, art-history
Vibes: accessible, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-commentary, insider-perspective
Setting: New York
Period: Recent Years
420 pages · Hardcover · Hudson Hills