The Easel

7th April 2020

The Last Days of the Art World … and Perhaps the First Days of a New One

This “true believer” has bleak expectations about the coming art world. “Most galleries don’t have cash reserves to go through a lockdown of six months.” Some art schools will close and, with them, teaching jobs for artists. Museums without large endowments will struggle, art fairs will disappear, and writing about art will shrink further. “How to survive? Passion. Obsession. Desire.”

31st March 2020

Inigo Philbrick, the Art World’s mini-Madoff, and Me

A rollicking tale for your lockdown. Schachter is an art world insider and an insightful writer. He took a precocious young dealer under his wing. Various high jinx followed. “Prices sometimes can be manipulated by the very well connected but nothing goes up forever. Rather than rein in his bets, Philbrick seemed to grow ever more audacious. Though criminal charges have yet to be filed, he’s worth more out of jail to some than behind bars.”