What is the difference between a painting in a museum and a tattoo on an arm?

David Carrier
David Carrier’s most recent books are Art Writing Online: The State of the Art World and Philosophical Skepticism as the Subject of Art: Maria Bussmann’s Drawings. His book In Caravaggio’s Shadow: Naples as a Work of Art is forthcoming.
Is It Beautiful, or Is It Art?
We philosophers love to argue, and so when I say that Thierry de Duve offers a lot to argue with, I mean that as sincere high praise.
The Radical Proposition of Dan Robbins
Andy Warhol was fascinated by the concept that an image that could be reproduced in millions of versions, while Robbins fabricated this concept. Big difference.
Sean Scully’s Figurative Leap
“Someone recently asked me how I navigate the space between my abstract and figurative paintings, which I often paint side by side. I said I jump.”
Art of the Russian Revolution, Through Contemporary Eyes
The Russian Revolution was an unparalleled disaster, but its artistic tradition remains of enormous interest.
The 1980s in New York
New books by Ingrid Sischy and Gary Indiana expand our understanding of a crucial decade.
The Met’s Wrong Turn on Revisionism
When an exhibition is as puzzling as this one, it’s useful to step aside and reflect.
Learning from an Art Bastard
The problem with Robert Cenedella’s analysis is that it isn’t radical enough.
The Emergence of a Brash Young Painter
A large exhibition like Devan Shimoyama’s at the Andy Warhol Museum inevitably puts great pressure on a very young artist. It also offers a marvelous challenge for reviewers.
Deconstructing Race in Western Painting
The most interesting part of this excellent exhibition is its presentation of black modernists, for here we enter relatively unfamiliar territory.
The Challenges of Fashion in a Museum
Contemporary Muslim Fashions is an exhibition that is also a major political statement, one that should provide support for multicultural tolerance and understanding.
Adrian Piper in Her Own Words
Piper is the rare artist whose practice is informed by her skills as a philosopher.