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# Art Critic John Yau Talks About Four Decades of Writing in New York
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/art-critic-john-yau/
- Published: 2020-05-15T16:44:16.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:22:35.000Z
- Description: The words of John Yau continue to be read by those who want to know what is going on in contemporary art in New York and beyond.
- Author: Hrag Vartanian
- Tags: Podcast, Art Criticism, John Yau, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:41 (2019, 2020, part 2)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/05/john-yau-podcas.jpg)

John Yau (image courtesy John Yau)

Few critics are like [John Yau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%5FYau?ref=hyperallergic.com), who, for decades, has continued to engage with contemporary art with a voracious appetite, often focusing on figures ignored by the art market and mainstream institutions that chase after the next shiny thing. He has been [part of the Hyperallergic Weekend editorial collective](https://hyperallergic.com/author/john-yau/) since it debuted in 2012.

John’s writing about contemporary art cuts through hierarchies and academic jargon while revealing his love of art and innovative ideas. I asked him about his life, how he got into art writing, stories from his childhood, and other influences that help us understand a writer who continues to challenge both himself and readers to look at art with fresh and informed eyes. This [special two-hour interview](https://podcast.hyperallergic.com/episodes/john-yau-talks-about-four-decades-of-writing-in-new-york?ref=hyperallergic.com) offers a window into the world of one of the country’s most respected art critics and poets.

A special thanks to Vinson Valega for providing the music for this interview. You can learn more about his music at [VinsonValega.com](https://www.vinsonvalega.com/jazz-musician?ref=hyperallergic.com).

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