A conversation with Roberta Smith and Jerry Saltz

Roberta Smith (The New York Times) and Jerry Saltz (New York magazine) are among the most important and respected art critics working today. In conversation with curator Jasper Sharp, they discussed the historical origins of art criticism, assessed its current state of health and made a prognosis for its future.
Roberta Smith und Jerry Saltz im Gespräch mit Jasper Sharp
Roberta Smith (The New York Times) und Jerry Saltz (New York Magazine) zählen zu den renommiertesten Kunstkritikern der Welt. Im Gespräch mit Kurator Jasper Sharp beleuchten sie Ursprung, Geschichte und gegenwärtigen Zustand der Kunstkritik und wagen eine Zukunftsprognose.
For more information / für mehr Information: www.khm.at
Video: Barbara Schwertführer

[@susand484]

So many years later, but what a treat. You guys are such a relief. I'm just not good at stomaching elitism, and you prove that we can talk about art without raising our noses. Thank you! And what a tough interview! You both did great. I love art too. Cornell especially.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

Great thought by Roberta Smith to remember: see yourself as progressing, developing... not focusing on the past is wrong because something new has developed. Accept what you have to say, as a person in the art world, for that day, time, level of development.

[@huffhouseart3377]

Art criticism, is just as ambiguous as Art itself. But the main thing to remember about anything to do with art, is not let it pass you by. Look, listen,and learn what inspires you. Thanks for sharing!

[@leaghjanell4374]

I think Jerry is a creative genius. Art critic? He's beyond that label.

[@patrickthompson9022]

Love me some Jerry. hanks for making the art world fun.

[@KM-mv1ho]

Please please more videos like this Jerry and Roberta!!

[@LJC3276]

so good

[@friedricengravy6646]

I agree with Mr. Saltz when he says 'We should all grow up...' in terms of tweeting or commenting/posting on FB. In fact, Ive heard people say they dont write, only read, because they r too afraid of what others might think. Sharing opinions!! Thats what its all about. U can always scroll past or disagree....U should not feel obligated to agree or have others think less of u just because u r being honest. Social media as a whole should create communication not hinder it. Yes there will always b trolls, dont give them more attention then the real users debating, chatting, learning, sharing, living. Love Life Make Art

[@rustart]

How many of these issues would be solved if rather than focusing on critique (art critic) the focus was on appreciation and on the experience of the piece? Dunno. Also, I like both these people individually and it’s magical that they are a couple.

[@friedricengravy6646]

The host is terrible at asking questions......ugh! Hes trying to ask, whats the point of art critism if a bad review or critique has no effect on the sale, market? Auctions for millions even when THE row of critics call foul?? Not sure if he ever really got it across. I enjoyed the guest speakers very much.

[@eightelements8849]

☮❤❤☮To Roberta and dear Mr.Saltz🕳❤🕳

[@thehappypotter9612]

We should think of art critics as our marketers

[@agatarek_official]

thank you

[@sebastianmelmoth685]

The maligning of critics like these is why galleries have taken over when it comes to elevating the greats (whcih are, nowadays, seldom great for that very reason).

[@goodboybuddy1]

Oh, and I love Jerry. Such a good mench.

[@hthomasackermann]

How can anyone call themselves a relevant art critic (as well as an artist) and have missed to identified the time we live in???? At least Greenberg bullied his way into bludgeoning us with his "bogus" zeitgeist but to write about art after March, 11 2011, and miss the art that identifies and defines our time is BRUTAL and an indictment on their sincerity. We live in the AGE OF FISSION !!!! Find out what that means and become relevant to the time you live in. best

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

The whole FOCUS on the financial system tied to the idea of 'big' art of a select few is a prostitution of art, demeaning what the body of all serious artists are doing, & I applaud Jerry Saltz for shaking up the viewpoint about that, rather than promoting it. It is FOCUS that is THE factor. The public guides channel people's viewpoints, which does matter.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

In a similar vein, I applaud Roberta Smith for confronting MOMA on every show having the same appearance--- because it is another wrong stranglehold on true art & true art creation. People who care about true art care about this. It is valid to consider how all of this is effecting everyone- critics... even artists, & what pressures it might present. That is something great to think about. I've really been thinking about what I want to do with my art, at a point of finishing some studies, & contemplating my own "style" development, & what I want to do for TRUE art. It seems the death of me & my whole life purpose as an artist if wrong influences form it. It is a horror to consider if I were corrupted off a true purpose--- the most important of questions. (I've decided to create some 'functional' art, & then pure art, as a solution, to handle reality, to allow 'pure' art pursuit, yet needed $).

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

I hope these voices do matter, because they are saying what is most critical for art not to be a sham, & to allow true art to flourish. What do we have if we don't have that?

[@goodboybuddy1]

It's all just entertainment. That's all. I'm watching this because it amuses me for a few minutes. Art is amusing. Maybe it impresses your friends... that's amusing.

[@robsmith588]

Jerry likes to portray himself at every opportunity as a anti establishment figure. A former truck driver with no education, but a champion of Artists. After following him on Instagram I found him to be quite different than he appears. I thought his comment section was a place to discuss Art, and theories about Art. However if you engage with him to discuss Art he lashes out at you in what can only be described as a petty vindictive tirade. Out of the blue unprovoked He said I will go to my grave never having made a real work of Art. Yes this is the real Jerry Saltz don't be fooled by his phony persona.

[@sundromos9456]

I think he really likes the sound of his own voice. That's where the focus is. Others' voices, not so much.

[@scout3279]

I notice you have left the same comment on the three other sites I visited featuring this man, (hoping he would be interesting n informative).... just alot of rambling on n on about himself....y let him piss u off

[@DJSTOEK]

🖤

[@BizRasam]

Saltz perfectly exemplifies the state of the art world today. It's an art world in which scholarly criticism has become so totally irrelevant that a guy like Saltz has made himself art's official spokesperson. He always has to tell his life story every time he gives a fucking speech and every time it's not even mildly interesting. He never fails to mention that he was a truck driver because it's his "rags to riches" story. In reality, he had a truck driving job for less than two years. He also makes a big mistake in thinking everyone is as neurotic as he is. Most of us don't have "nervous breakdowns," nor do we envy the success of others to the extreme that he did (or does). He advises students to have less contact with their parents. Is he kidding? Maybe not. Did he really not speak to his parents for 10 years or is he just making his point? He loves this attention that he now has as a "celebrity". And, then there's the PULITZER. He always gives at least five minutes to talk about that along with other awards he's received. He, always, boasts that he's the most read art critic in the world which could be true because there are hardly any art critics anymore and the few that still exist have a completely different audience than he does and have no interest in entertaining obtuse art students who think reading real criticism is boring and too difficult to understand. Saltz imagines that he's doing stand up but he's not the least bit funny. Obnoxious yes, funny no. His speeches don't tell us anything about art because that's not why he's there. It's all about him. This is for his battered ego. But what I really hate the most about this creepy guy is when he makes that infantile sound with his mouth to denigrate something (it used to be called a Bronx cheer). That's a disgusting habit and he doesn't even know it's disgusting. Some critic! He wrote a book about how to be an artist, yet, HE couldn't make it as an artist and gave up. Maybe he should have read his book. Oh, wait, he hadn't written it yet. So, how does he get to lecture us about what it takes to be an artist? He admonishes us to stop with the negativity and work harder as if he's saying something profound.

[@leststoner]

Thank you!

[@EduardoPauloNyc]

To quote Roberta Smith (~41:30): "... and I don't really care...."

[@76brat]

I love these two...

[@vino140]

Jerry, bottle it !

[@hthomasackermann]

New York - Urban centrist myopia!

[@J0hnC0ltrane]

Get answers to off the wall questions.

[@anthonylopez9594]

At one poiny the lady says i dont like Twitter like you are supposed to but then proceeds to tell you that they like twitter. Everykne says something like this at some point

[@lisatate3619]

It's apparent from what Jerry Saltz says that his initial reason for becoming an art critic was for attention and to attract women. No initial interest in art . Now I'm wondering who does he think he is,really? And Roberta ,from her body language seems to pull away from him and appears a little irritated that he begins his talk with such demeaning self-effacement coupled with self-centered reasoning.

[@cupojoebrand6158]

Zombie Art = Mainstream Art

[@nelsonferreira-aulasdearte]

Not sure about Jerry. I find Roberta much more meaningful. Of course they represent a kind of taste that I find questionable. And that needs to be challenged. Lack of technique for example, is a major problem in the contemporary scene. Too much talking about money and possible meanings, not enough talking about skill. This is what happens when you have unskilled critics that cannot produce art themselves - they don't understand the whole process. Yet I love what Roberta says, that museums are humbling and they teach you about your own prejudices and that you're not the only person in the world.

[@BrianMorrisPhoto]

Patronage

[@artbyferencnyiro1868]

Host was rude , and extremely boring.

[@LindaGriggsable]

The host sucks his teeth after every sentence, a horribly annoying affectation that has crept up from waiters to art lecturers. So distracting I can't hear what he says.