Today, 150 gallerists, artists, writers, editors, curators, directors, arts administrators, assistants, interns and other workers of the art world have published an open letter on The Guardian, denouncing the sexual abuse they have experienced on their workplace and over the course of their career.
“We have been groped, undermined, harassed, infantilised, scorned, threatened, and intimidated by those in positions of power who control access to resources and opportunities. We have held our tongues, threatened by power wielded over us and promises of institutional access and career advancement”, reads the letter, which was signed by art world personalities including artists Cindy Sherman, Cécile B. Evans, Carol Bove, Celia Hampton, Hannah Perry, Iman Issa, Laura Poitras and Laure Prouvost, art dealers and gallery owners, Chiara Repetto, Hannah Hoffman, Claudia Altman-Siegel, Sadie Coles, writer and professor Coco Fusco as well as curators Elena Filipovic, Fernanda Pitta and Francesca Gavin among many others.
Regarding Landesman’s resignation, the letter said “The resignation of one publisher from one high-profile magazine does not solve the larger, more insidious problem: an art world that upholds inherited power structures at the cost of ethical behaviour.”
The letter is available in its entirety via The Guardian.
