Hubert Neumann Defines Aftermodernism in Rome Exhibition Cycle

Collector Hubert Neumann has coined the term "Aftermodernism" to describe the post-modernist shift following Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jeff Koons. This concept is the focus of an exhibition cycle at Mucciaccia Contemporary in Rome, featuring artists Benjamin Edwards and Tom Sanford from Neumann's collection of over 2,600 works. Neumann discovered the term in a review of Karen Kilimnik and prefers it for its dual reference to style and historical period, its optimism, and its ironic ambiguity. The collaboration with Mucciaccia began five years ago when Neumann and his partner Debra Purden visited the gallery, leading to a gradual trust-building process. Neumann's collecting philosophy, inherited from his father, emphasizes patience, courage, and independence from market trends. He believes the pandemic will lead to a new Renaissance with a broader, more informed class of collectors and artists, facilitated by increased transparency and digital connectivity.