Over 200 Art Professionals Sign 'We Are Not Surprised' Letter Denouncing Sexual Harassment

More than 200 art professionals have signed an open letter titled 'We Are Not Surprised' condemning widespread sexual harassment in the art world. The document emerged following accusations against Artforum co-publisher Knight Landesman, who resigned last week. Signatories include artists Nicole Eisenmann, Lynn Hershman Leeson, and Laure Prouvost, along with dealers Barbara Gladstone and Lucy Mitchell-Innes. Art writer Valerie Werder, one of the women named in the lawsuit against Landesman, helped create the letter and told The Guardian about receiving international support from diverse communities. The letter states that workers across the art field have experienced groping, threats, intimidation, and career advancement offers in exchange for sexual favors from those in power. It criticizes institutions that espouse feminist rhetoric while preserving harmful sexist norms in practice. The document emphasizes that Landesman's resignation alone doesn't solve systemic problems of inherited power structures enabling unethical behavior. Signatories vow to no longer remain silent about condescending remarks, unwanted physical contact, or professional retaliation.