Brooklyn's Artist Diaspora: A Bohemian Struggle
The article paints a vivid picture of the artist communities in Brooklyn, particularly in Williamsburg, where industrial spaces have been converted into studios. It contrasts the glamour of the Venice Biennale with the gritty reality of artists working in former factories, living in cramped conditions, and creating art that rarely sees the light of day outside their studios. The text describes the makeshift galleries of exchanged artworks among friends, the prevalence of thrift-store furniture, and the trend toward obsessive patterns and sci-fi grotesque. It notes that most artists never show outside their studios, except for rare exchanges like those between Parisian and Brooklyn galleries, which allowed local artists like Bruce Pearson to exhibit in Paris. The article reflects on the historical myth of the struggling artist, from Murger to Pollock, and critiques the persistence of a well-educated lumpen bourgeoisie of artists who multiply despite diminishing prospects. It ends with a quote from David Smith: "Art is a luxury for which artists pay."
Key facts
- Artist studios are multiplying in former industrial buildings in Brooklyn, especially Williamsburg.
- Galleries and collectors show little interest in these artists.
- The Venice Biennale is described as a hot, crowded event with mixed reviews.
- A former glass factory in Brooklyn now houses about a hundred artists across various media.
- The Greenpoint-Williamsburg-Long Island City area is the latest bohemian enclave.
- Harlem has already been colonized by gentrification.
- Similar artist diasporas exist in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and other cities.
- Most artworks created in these studios are never seen outside their place of creation.
- Some Parisian galleries exchanged artists with Brooklyn counterparts, allowing Bruce Pearson to exhibit in Paris.
- Artists often teach for low wages or work menial jobs to fund their practice.
- The article references Adorno's culture industry theory but finds it inadequate for the 21st-century artist surplus.
- David Smith is quoted saying, "Art is a luxury for which artists pay."
Entities
Artists
- Bruce Pearson
- David Smith
- Giacometti
- Jackson Pollock
- Marianne Groves
Institutions
- artpress
Locations
- New York
- Brooklyn
- Williamsburg
- Greenpoint
- Long Island City
- Harlem
- Bronx
- Venice
- Paris
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Rome
- Buenos Aires
- Moscow
- Tokyo
Sources
- artpress —