Artforum Fires Editor David Velasco Over Palestine Open Letter

On October 19, an open letter advocating for Palestine was posted on Artforum's website, leading to the dismissal of David Velasco, who had served as editor in chief for six years and worked at the magazine for 18. The letter, co-released with e-flux, urged for a ceasefire in Gaza and humanitarian assistance, garnering thousands of signatures from artists, curators, and critics. Penske Media, which acquired Artforum in 2022 and owns other publications like Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter, claimed the letter was 'widely misinterpreted' as the magazine's official stance. Following its release, Artforum published a rebuttal from gallerists criticizing the letter's one-sidedness. Velasco expressed to The New York Times his disappointment over the magazine's capitulation to external pressures.