Ben Davis, Author at artnet News |

Reviews

The Whitney’s Warhol Show Strives to Spotlight His Human Side. But It’s His Cynicism That Remains Most Surprising

The show presents a very un-Warholian Warhol—and that may be wishful thinking.

By Ben Davis, Nov 26, 2018

Politics

After an International Outcry From Activists and Artists, Photographer Shahidul Alam Is Finally Granted Bail in Bangladesh

The news is a big win, say Alam's supporters—but the fight isn't over.

By Ben Davis, Nov 15, 2018

Opinion

Excited for Amazon’s Arrival in Long Island City? The Results for New York’s Art Community Won’t Be Pretty

Look to Seattle to get a glimpse of the tensions wrought by the tech giant.

By Ben Davis, Nov 13, 2018

Opinion

The Museum of Voting Shows What Everyone Gets Wrong About Youth and Politics. Here’s Why

We need sharper ways to talk about the politics of digital distraction.

By Ben Davis, Nov 5, 2018

Reviews

Why Hilma af Klint’s Occult Spirituality Makes Her the Perfect Artist for Our Technologically Disrupted Time

At the Guggenheim, "Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future" makes you rethink what it means to be modern.

By Ben Davis, Oct 23, 2018

Analysis

Here Are 8 Major Questions Still Unanswered About Banksy’s Sotheby’s Prank

What really happened, and who knew ahead of time?

By Ben Davis & Eileen Kinsella, Oct 12, 2018

Opinion

Can We Just Admit That Banksy’s Art-Shredding Stunt Is Actually Really Good?

It is OK to let yourself like this confounding bit of auction theater.

By Ben Davis, Oct 10, 2018

Reviews

How Delacroix’s Revolutionary Art Was Forged in the Fires of Counterrevolutionary France

The French Romantic lived through dramatic times, and helped shape their mythology.

By Ben Davis, Oct 2, 2018

Opinion

‘A Very Provocative Collection’: How Art Addiction at Lehman Brothers Helped Spark the 2008 Financial Crisis

Hey, remember how art helped bring down the world financial system in 2008?

By Ben Davis, Sep 21, 2018

Opinion

The Romance Between the Art Market and Cryptocurrencies Is Getting Weirder Every Day. It Won’t End Well.

A look at some of the more outlandish news from the rapidly mutating world of art-and-cryptocurrency.

By Ben Davis, Sep 19, 2018

Reviews

The Bienal de Sao Paulo Makes a Bold Attempt to Change the Way We Look at Art. Can It Work?

At a time of crisis in Brazil, curator Gabriel Pérez-Barreiro has eschewed spectacle for a much more contemplative, quiet biennial.

By Ben Davis, Sep 17, 2018

On View

Here’s What the Experimental 2018 Sao Paulo Biennial Looks Like

For "Affective Affinities," curator Gabriel Pérez-Barreiro has let a team of artist-curators define what the show feels like. Here's what it looks like.

By Ben Davis, Sep 6, 2018

Politics

Anish Kapoor, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Other Leading UK Art Figures Join Outcry Over Jailed Photographer Shahidul Alam

John Akomfrah, Charlie Brooker, Steve McQueen, Nicholas Serota, and many others signed onto the new statement, as vigils are planned in New York and London.

By Ben Davis, Sep 3, 2018

Reviews

I Saw Burning Man Art in a Museum While Not on Drugs, and Here’s What Happened

A visit to "No Spectators" in DC prompts some thoughts on the value of popular art.

By Ben Davis, Aug 31, 2018

Reviews

What Is the Real-World Value of a Left-Wing Art Show?

Our critic visits SITE Santa Fe and wonders whether biennials are ever able to truly live up to their grand ambitions.

By Ben Davis, Aug 30, 2018

Ben Davis

National Art Critic

The Whitney’s Warhol Show Strives to Spotlight His Human Side. But It’s His Cynicism That Remains Most Surprising

After an International Outcry From Activists and Artists, Photographer Shahidul Alam Is Finally Granted Bail in Bangladesh

Excited for Amazon’s Arrival in Long Island City? The Results for New York’s Art Community Won’t Be Pretty

The Museum of Voting Shows What Everyone Gets Wrong About Youth and Politics. Here’s Why

Why Hilma af Klint’s Occult Spirituality Makes Her the Perfect Artist for Our Technologically Disrupted Time

Here Are 8 Major Questions Still Unanswered About Banksy’s Sotheby’s Prank

Can We Just Admit That Banksy’s Art-Shredding Stunt Is Actually Really Good?

How Delacroix’s Revolutionary Art Was Forged in the Fires of Counterrevolutionary France

‘A Very Provocative Collection’: How Art Addiction at Lehman Brothers Helped Spark the 2008 Financial Crisis

The Romance Between the Art Market and Cryptocurrencies Is Getting Weirder Every Day. It Won’t End Well.

The Bienal de Sao Paulo Makes a Bold Attempt to Change the Way We Look at Art. Can It Work?

Here’s What the Experimental 2018 Sao Paulo Biennial Looks Like

Anish Kapoor, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Other Leading UK Art Figures Join Outcry Over Jailed Photographer Shahidul Alam

I Saw Burning Man Art in a Museum While Not on Drugs, and Here’s What Happened

What Is the Real-World Value of a Left-Wing Art Show?

The best of artnet news in your inbox

The best of artnet news in your inbox