Jeffrey Deitch has had his Instagram account disabled and all evidence as to why points to a post calling for women to DM him nudes for a project he is doing with Urs Fischer and Georg Herold during Art Basel Miami Beach.
What we suspect to be the offending post read: “We are casting Nude Female Models for a performance by Urs Fischer and Georg Herold during Art Basel Miami Beach. If you will be in Miami from November 29 – December 5 and are interested in participating please send me a full body shot via Direct Message on Instagram or by email…”
Prior to Deitch’s account being deleted, a keen-eyed reader sent the post to artnet News.
What is likely to be the offending post, calling for nudes.
Deitch caused a splash at Art Basel Miami in 2014 by hosting a controversial performance by Miley Cyrus—who knows what he has planned in conjunction with Fischer that requires nude female models en mass. What we do know is that Deitch and collaborator Larry Gagosian are staging a large-scale exhibition— much like 2015’s “Unrealism”—curated by Diana Widmaier-Picasso called “Desire.” The show will feature a stellar list of artists including Allen Jones, Juergen Teller, Tom of Finland, Nan Goldin, in addition to Urs Fischer & Georg Herold.
That said, live, nude models are being incorporated into art by many contemporary artists to much critical acclaim. From Eddie Peake—whom Deitch recently worked with, staging a performance by the artist as the first event at his NYC Wooster Street space—to rising star Donna Huanca, whose exhibition at London’s Zabludowicz Collection during Frieze this year drew many plaudits.
Instagram are known for policing content on their photo sharing platform but what was first instituted as anti-porn policy has strayed into censoring art, professional photography, and images of breastfeeding.
Open calls for nude direct messages, however, will undoubtedly get you barred.
“Desire” will be on view at the Moore Building,Miami from November 30 – December 5