Artstar: The Reality Show That Foretold Observational TV
In 2006, during the reality TV boom, dealer Jeffrey Deitch launched "Artstar" on Gallery HD, a docu-reality show following eight unknown artists at his Deitch Projects gallery in Soho. Unlike typical competition shows, it had no eliminations or contests, instead documenting daily artistic life, research, and commissions. Despite its innovative format, the show was not renewed for a second season due to low ratings. A decade later, critics reconsider it as ahead of its time, anticipating the observational or "fly on the wall" genre now popular in Britain with shows like Gogglebox, Benefit Street, and Exodus: Our Journey to Europe. The article by Alessio Giaquinto in Artribune Magazine #33 argues that Artstar's lack of competition was both its downfall and its prescient insight.
Key facts
- Artstar aired in 2006 on Gallery HD.
- The show followed eight artists at Deitch Projects in Soho.
- Jeffrey Deitch was the gallerist and later MOCA LA director.
- No eliminations or competition occurred on the show.
- The show was not renewed for a second season.
- Observational shows like Gogglebox are now trending.
- The article appears in Artribune Magazine #33.
- Alessio Giaquinto authored the piece.
Entities
Artists
- Zackary Drucker
- Alessio Giaquinto
- Jeffrey Deitch
Institutions
- Deitch Projects
- MOCA Los Angeles
- Gallery HD
- BBC
- Artribune
Locations
- Soho
- New York City
- United States
- Italy
- Great Britain
- Los Angeles