Famous American Art Critics

Clement Greenberg was an influential American essayist and art critic known for his association with abstract expressionism and his support of modern art in the mid-20th century. Writing under the pseudonym K. Hardesh, he was recognized for his formalist approach to aesthetics. He played a significant role in promoting artists such as Jackson Pollock and shaping the discourse around American modern art. Greenberg's critical insights and theories have had a lasting impact on the art world, solidifying his legacy as a key figure in art criticism.

Tom Verlaine was an iconic American musician renowned for his role as the frontman of the influential rock band Television. As a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Verlaine played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of the New York City music scene. His innovative guitar playing and poetic songwriting style helped define the post-punk and alternative rock genres. Verlaine's contributions to music have left a lasting impact, inspiring generations of musicians and music lovers around the world.

Frank O'Hara was an influential American writer, poet, and art critic known for his work as a curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. He was a prominent figure in the New York School, a group of artists, writers, and musicians inspired by various art movements. O'Hara's poetry is characterized by its personal and diary-like tone, often celebrating urban life and incorporating elements like jazz music and pop culture. His writing aimed to capture the immediacy of everyday experiences and foster a direct connection with the reader. His posthumous collections, including "The Collected Poems of Frank O'Hara," have received critical acclaim, with the former winning the National Book Award for Poetry in 1972.

Mimi Gardner Gates is an accomplished American art historian known for her leadership as the former director of the Seattle Art Museum. With a distinguished career in the arts, she has made significant contributions to the field through her expertise and vision. Gates has been instrumental in shaping the cultural landscape through exhibitions, acquisitions, and educational initiatives during her tenure. Her passion for art and commitment to fostering creativity and appreciation for diverse artistic expressions have left a lasting impact on the art community.

Jerry Saltz is an accomplished American art critic known for his insightful commentary and analysis. With a career spanning several prestigious positions, Saltz has held roles as a senior art critic and columnist for New York magazine and The Village Voice. He has been recognized for his contributions to the field, receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2018 and being nominated for the award on two other occasions. Saltz has also served as a visiting critic at various esteemed institutions and has been an advisor for significant art events such as the Whitney Biennial. His expertise and influence have been acknowledged through the receipt of multiple honorary doctorates.

Isabella Stewart Gardner was an American art collector, philanthropist, and patron of the arts. She founded the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, showcasing her love for art. Gardner was known for her energetic intellectual curiosity, love of travel, and stylish tastes. She had a wide circle of friends among noted artists and writers, and her unconventional behavior often made headlines. Her eccentricities, such as wearing a white headband emblazoned with "Oh, you Red Sox" to a formal concert, captured public attention and added to her reputation.

Arthur Coleman Danto was a prominent American art critic, philosopher, and professor at Columbia University. Known for his tenure as an art critic for The Nation, he made significant contributions to philosophical aesthetics, philosophy of history, and the philosophy of action. Danto's diverse interests encompassed thought, feeling, philosophy of art, theories of representation, philosophical psychology, Hegel's aesthetics, and the works of philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre. His wide-ranging intellect and prolific writings established him as a leading figure in the field of contemporary philosophy.

Frederick Robinson Koch was an American collector and philanthropist. He was known for his contributions to the arts and culture, particularly as a collector of rare books, manuscripts, and musical scores. Koch was also involved in various philanthropic endeavors, supporting educational institutions, museums, and cultural organizations. His passion for preserving and sharing cultural heritage was evident in his support of projects that aimed to enrich society's understanding and appreciation of art and literature. Koch's legacy continues to inspire a love for the arts and culture.

Harold Rosenberg was a prominent American writer, educator, philosopher, and art critic. He is credited with coining the term "Action Painting" in 1952, which later became associated with abstract expressionism. Rosenberg gained widespread recognition for his insightful art criticism, particularly during his tenure as the art critic for The New Yorker from 1962 until his passing. Throughout his professional life, he made significant contributions to the understanding and appreciation of modern art, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.

Dan Graham was an American visual artist, writer, and curator known for his contributions to the writer-artist tradition. He published a wide range of critical and speculative writing, covering topics from art theory essays to reviews of various cultural elements. Graham's early art was magazine-based and predated the conceptual art movement. Later in his career, he delved into cultural phenomena through various mediums such as photography, video, performance art, and installation structures. He was based in New York City and left a lasting impact on the art world.

Michael Martin Fried is a prominent modernist art critic and historian known for his contributions to the discourse on the origins and evolution of modernism. He has studied at prestigious institutions like Princeton University, Harvard University, and Merton College, Oxford. Currently, he holds the position of J.R. Herbert Boone Professor Emeritus of Humanities and Art History at Johns Hopkins University. Fried has engaged in debates with notable figures such as Clement Greenberg, T. J. Clark, and Rosalind Krauss, and has had a close association with philosopher Stanley Cavell. He has been recognized for his work with memberships in prestigious organizations like the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.

S.S. Van Dine, the pseudonym of American art critic Willard Huntington Wright, was an influential figure in the world of detective novels. Active in avant-garde cultural circles in pre-World War I New York, Van Dine created the iconic fictional detective Philo Vance. Known for his sophisticated sleuthing skills and refined aesthetic tastes, Philo Vance first appeared in books in the 1920s before making his way to the big screen and radio. Van Dine's work as a writer under this pseudonym left a lasting impact on the mystery genre.

Hal Foster is an American art critic and historian known for his work on the avant-garde within postmodernism. He has been affiliated with prestigious institutions such as Cornell University and Princeton University, where he currently teaches. Foster's influential writings include editing "The Anti-Aesthetic: Essays on Postmodern Culture" and publishing "Recodings" and "The Return of the Real." He views criticism and art history as complementary aspects of his role, offering insightful perspectives on contemporary society and the historical recurrence of avant-garde movements.

Fairfield Porter was an American painter and art critic known for his realist style in the midst of the Abstract Expressionist movement. He focused on landscapes, domestic interiors, and portraits of family and friends, many affiliated with the New York School of writers. Porter's work often depicted scenes from his family's summer house in Maine and their home in New York. Influenced by French painters Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard, he aimed to capture the beauty in everyday life. Porter bequeathed around 250 of his works to the Parrish Art Museum.

Gelett Burgess was a versatile American artist, art critic, poet, author, and humorist who played a significant role in the literary renaissance of the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1890s. Known for his work with the iconoclastic magazine The Lark and his association with The Crowd literary group, Burgess was renowned for his nonsense verse, notably "The Purple Cow," and for introducing French modern art to the United States. He was also an illustrator, author of the popular Goops books, and credited with coining the term "blurb."

Lucy R. Lippard is a prominent American writer, art critic, activist, and curator known for her significant contributions to contemporary art. She played a pivotal role in advocating for the "dematerialization" in conceptual art and was an influential supporter of feminist art. With a prolific career, Lippard has authored 26 books focusing on various aspects of contemporary art. Her work has garnered acclaim from literary critics and art associations, establishing her as a respected figure within the art world.

William Wetmore Story was a versatile figure in the arts, excelling as a sculptor, art critic, poet, and editor. Known for his impactful sculptures that often depicted historical and mythological themes, he gained recognition for his skill and creativity. As an art critic, he offered insightful commentary on contemporary works, shaping public opinion. Story's literary talents were evident in his poetry, which reflected his deep appreciation for beauty and emotion. His editorial work further showcased his intellectual prowess and dedication to the arts.

Coosje van Bruggen was a renowned Dutch-born American sculptor, art historian, and critic known for her extensive collaborations with her husband Claes Oldenburg. Together, they created large-scale public sculptures that have become iconic landmarks in various cities worldwide. Van Bruggen's work was characterized by a unique blend of artistic vision and critical insight, earning her a reputation as a pioneering figure in contemporary sculpture. Her contributions to the art world continue to inspire and influence artists and art enthusiasts globally.

Rosalind E. Krauss is an American art critic, art theorist, and professor at Columbia University in New York City. With a focus on 20th-century painting, sculpture, and photography, she has built a reputation for her scholarly contributions to the field. Krauss has been a consistent presence in art publications since 1965, including Artforum, Art International, and Art in America. She served as an associate editor at Artforum and co-founded October, a renowned journal for contemporary arts criticism and theory.

Maurice Berger was an American cultural historian, curator, and art critic known for his interdisciplinary scholarship on race and visual culture in the United States. He served as a Research Professor and Chief Curator at the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Berger curated significant exhibitions exploring the relationship between race and American art, such as "For All The World To See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights." His work focused on the role of visual imagery in the modern struggle for racial equality and justice.

Dave Hickey was an influential American art critic known for his contributions to various publications such as Rolling Stone, ARTnews, and Artforum. Dubbed "The Bad Boy of Art Criticism" and "The Enfant Terrible of Art Criticism," he left a lasting impact on the art world. Besides his work in criticism, Hickey also held academic positions as a professor of English at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and as a distinguished professor of criticism at the University of New Mexico's MFA program in the Department of Art & Art History.

Hilton Kramer was a prominent American art critic and essayist known for his insightful commentary on modern and contemporary art. He worked as the chief art critic for The New York Times from 1973 to 1982, where he gained a reputation for his sharp and often provocative reviews. Kramer also co-founded The New Criterion, a conservative cultural and literary magazine, where he continued to contribute thought-provoking analyses of art and culture until his passing. His work significantly influenced the art world and sparked important debates within the field.

Sadakichi Hartmann was a prominent American art critic, poet, and anarchist. He was known for his insightful critiques of contemporary art, particularly in relation to the emerging modernist movement. Hartmann's writings often challenged conventional artistic norms and explored avant-garde concepts. He was a key figure in the early 20th-century American art scene, engaging with artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Alfred Stieglitz. Hartmann's work helped to shape the cultural landscape of his time, leaving a lasting impact on the world of art and literature.

Henry Geldzahler was a prominent Belgian-American curator, historian, and critic of modern art in the late 20th century. He is renowned for his significant contributions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and as New York City Commissioner of Cultural Affairs. Geldzahler held a pivotal role in shaping the contemporary art scene, maintaining close relationships with leading artists of his time. His influence was unparalleled, earning him the reputation of being the most powerful and controversial art curator, and a central figure in the cultural world of New York City.

Irving Sandler was a prominent American art critic, historian, and educator known for his extensive contributions to the understanding of American art. He played a key role in documenting the evolution of abstract expressionism in the 1950s and managed the Tanager Gallery while coordinating the New York Artists Club. Sandler was recognized for his impartial observations of the art world, distinguishing himself from more polemical figures like Clement Greenberg and Harold Rosenberg. His presence at art events and dedication to documenting conversations earned him the titles of "Our Boswell of the New York scene" and "balayeur des artistes."

Kenyon Cox was a prominent American artist known for his work as a painter, illustrator, muralist, writer, and teacher. He played a significant role as an early instructor at the Art Students League of New York, where he was influential in shaping the artistic development of many students. Cox's design of the League's logo, featuring the motto "Nulla Dies Sine Linea" (No Day Without a Line), reflects his dedication to artistic practice and discipline. His contributions to the art world continue to be celebrated and recognized.

James Gibbons Huneker was an American art, book, music, and theater critic known for his ambition and colorful personality. He aimed to educate Americans about the finest cultural accomplishments of his era, both native and European. Throughout his career, Huneker was dedicated to analyzing and critiquing various art forms, including literature, music, and theater. His work as a critic helped shape the cultural landscape of his time and influenced the appreciation of the arts among the American audience.

Donald Kuspit is a prominent American art critic and poet renowned for his expertise in psychoanalytic art criticism. With a vast body of work, he has delved into avant-garde aesthetics, postmodernism, modern art, and conceptual art. Kuspit's insightful analyses and critiques have significantly contributed to the understanding and appreciation of contemporary art. His writings provide valuable perspectives on the evolving art landscape, making him a respected figure in the art world.

Luis Camnitzer is a prominent artist, curator, art critic, and academic known for his pioneering work in Conceptual Art during the 1960s. He specializes in sculpture, printmaking, and installation art, tackling themes related to repression, institutional critique, and social justice. Through his diverse artistic practice, Camnitzer has made significant contributions to the art world, challenging conventional norms and sparking critical discourse. His innovative approach and commitment to addressing societal issues have established him as a respected figure in contemporary art circles globally.

William Stanley Rubin was a prominent American art scholar known for his work as a curator, critic, collector, art historian, and teacher of modern art. He made significant contributions during his tenure at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City from 1968 to 1988, where he served as a curator and director of the Painting and Sculpture Department. Rubin played a pivotal role in expanding MoMA's collection, particularly focusing on abstract expressionism, and curated numerous influential exhibitions during his career.

Samuel Putnam Avery was a prominent American art dealer and connoisseur known for his significant contributions to the art world. He established himself as a respected figure in the art community through his work as a dealer and his involvement in various artistic and educational associations. Avery's influence extended internationally, as he was appointed as a commissioner for the American art department of the Exposition Universelle in Paris. His dedication to the arts is exemplified by his founding of the Avery Architectural Library at Columbia University and his donation of a substantial collection of etchings and lithographs to the New York Public Library.

William Crary Brownell was an influential American literary and art critic known for his insightful analyses and sharp critiques. He made significant contributions to the fields of literature and art through his writings and reviews. Brownell's work was highly regarded for its depth and intellectual rigor, earning him a reputation as a respected authority in the cultural sphere. His writing style was characterized by a keen eye for detail, a nuanced understanding of aesthetics, and a profound appreciation for the arts.