Critic Ken Johnson Faces Petition Over Reviews of Black and Women Artists
A petition featuring over 1,500 signatures has emerged, urging The New York Times to reprimand critic Ken Johnson. This letter asserts that Johnson's review of "Now Dig This! Art and Black Los Angeles 1960-1980" at P.S. 1 and the preview of "The Female Gaze" unfavorably compared women and African-American artists to their white male counterparts. Although he commended Melvin Edwards and David Hammons, he raised concerns about the challenges faced by certain artists. His remark that "Black artists did not invent assemblage" has ignited backlash. Detractors believe his stance undermines black art, while supporters advocate for his right to free expression. The discussion touches on identity politics, the nature of criticism, and the art market. Johnson is set to be Critic in Residence at MICA in spring 2024.
Key facts
- An anonymous petition on iPetition.com calls for The New York Times to censure critic Ken Johnson.
- Over 1500 people have signed the petition.
- The petition criticizes Johnson's reviews of "Now Dig This! Art and Black Los Angeles 1960-1980" at P.S. 1 and "The Female Gaze: Women Artists Making Their World" in Philadelphia.
- Johnson's review stated "Black artists did not invent assemblage," citing white artists like Picasso, Duchamp, and Rauschenberg.
- The "Now Dig This!" exhibition was originally shown at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles as part of "Pacific Standard Time."
- Johnson praised works by artists Melvin Edwards and David Hammons in his review.
- Commentators debate whether Johnson's criticism is formalist, exclusionary, or a valid provocation for discussion.
- Ken Johnson will be Critic in Residence at MICA's Leroy E. Hoffberger School of Painting in spring 2013.
Entities
Artists
- Ken Johnson
- Deshawn Dumas
- David Carrier
- Deven Golden
- Diane Thodos
- Tobey Crockett
- Greg Lindquist
- Sandra Sider
- Joan Waltemath
- Melvin Edwards
- David Hammons
- John Riddle
- Richard Stankiewicz
- Picasso
- Kurt Schwitters
- Marcel Duchamp
- David Smith
- Robert Rauschenberg
- Kellie Jones
- Jerry Saltz
- Bill Donovan
- John Yau
- Anoka Faruqee
- William Villalongo
- John Canaday
- Brian Sewell
- Thomas Friedman
- Newt Gingrich
Institutions
- The New York Times
- P.S. 1
- Hammer Museum
- MoMA
- iPetition.com
- Hunger College/Times Square Gallery
- Huffington Post
- Leroy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at MICA
- MICA
- New York Times
- Evening Standard
- Museo El Barrio
- artcritical
Locations
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Philadelphia
- United States
- London
- United Kingdom
- Syria