Hrag Vartanian

My first article for the New York Foundation of the Arts’ online magazine for artists, Current, went live today on the NYFA site.

Here’s an excerpt from my “Art Market Recession Report“:

Since last fall, a fog of uncertainty has blanketed New York’s art world as galleries, artists, and collectors have tried to make sense of the current economic recession. While the economy was still in free-fall, New York Magazine critic Jerry Saltz predicted a dire economic future: “If the art economy is as bad as it looks—if worse comes to worst—40 to 50 New York galleries will close.”

And some juicy stuff:

Ground zero for the gallery rumor mill is a blog called How’s My Dealing. The site is the art world’s secret guilty pleasure, although not one without its share of misinformation and controversy…

Rumors aside, nine city art galleries have or will close since the economic crisis began: 31GRAND, Cohan and Leslie, Guild & Greyshkul, Mehr Gallery, Fotosphere, Plane Space, Rivington Arms, Roebling Hall, and werkstatte. Many others have downsized or are faced with uncertain futures.

Read the whole thing here (registration on the NYFA site is required).

Also in this issue of NYFA Current:

• An Interview with Chiara Clemente and Swoon by Suzan Sherman
• Nicole Caruth Reflects on Prospect.1 in New Orleans
• Peter Scott on Big Box Reuse
• Elia Alba: Identity Unmasked by Sara Reisman