Damien Davis Discusses Art World Gatekeeping and Artist Competition in Podcast Episode

Artist Damien Davis, known for his work examining power structures in the art world, was featured on The Art Biz podcast. Davis, a visual artist, writer, and educator based in Newark, discussed how systemic barriers like application fees and artificial scarcity create competition among artists rather than collaboration. He argues that opportunities are abundant but gatekeeping mechanisms benefit those at the center of the art ecosystem. Davis's practice includes writing for Hyperallergic, creating sculptures from laser-cut acrylic and industrial hardware, and teaching at New York University. His work has been exhibited at institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, and the Whitney.