Bob Nickas

Bob Nickas - curator

OX

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

really smart curator, he has his favorites or regulars but they are really right on, he has a vision and sticks to it.

Anonymous said...

as long as it includes lots of male artists.

Anonymous said...

Bob Nickas wrote about and championed all my favorite artists in the 80's. Some of his essays even introduced artists to me while I was in art school that were very influential on me. I thought he might like my work. But then it turned out that he hated it. Really actively loathed it. To the point where he would tell all my dealers and whoever else we both came into contact with how terrible of an artist I was. Which was almost as good.

Anonymous said...

writing a big phaidon book on abstract artists lots of women in this book

Anonymous said...

"Lots of women" does not immediately equate to "good". Let's hope it's just a book full of quality artists, genitals aside.

Anonymous said...

he really works hard against the artists he doesn't like or hurt his feelings. be cautious.

Anonymous said...

bob nickas is slimy and not as bright as he thinks he is.

Anonymous said...

Bob Nickas was almost single handedly responsible for starting my career as an artist. He gave me a great context, gave me great introductions, included me in cool shows, wrote interesting things about my work, and introduced me to a group of artists who I am still friends with 15 years later. He helped me get broad international support that carries me when things get tough. I will be forever grateful for this.

Anonymous said...

i agree with Lisa, ditto my experience, may have some faults in the personality and social department, but if he supports your work, good things can come of that. as someone else said about Higgs, he likes what he likes, and too bad if you are not it. i have had only good experiences with him so far.

Anonymous said...

Bob wrote an email to my dealer stating my work was awful and I should not be in the gallery. I have no relationship with Bob, never have. He's a total stranger trying to fuck with my career. Luckily, my dealer thinks Bob is a joke and laughed at the email. He's not a stable person, and will try and hurt you if your not one of his crew (20% good artists, 80% hot hipster boys).

The reason my dealer thinks he's a joke is that Bob asked him to sell work to Pierre Huber for a private museum Pierre was starting. Bob went on and on about what a great museum it was and that great work should be sold to Pierre. Bob got a piece on the sale, but the work ended up in auction not a museum.
Either Bob was in on it, or a chump.

Anonymous said...

I think it's funny how most of these opinions about Bob Nickas are married to how he personally helped or hurt the individual.

I wish people could soberly assess the credibility of someone's ideas. Lisa's take on Bob seems a pretty flabby reason to think someone is worthwhile as a curator. I frankly think that any curator who has the power to single handedly start or maintain a career is suspect, as is the art that is passive or vague enough to allow for such contextualization.

Jah Jah said...
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Jah Jah said...
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Unknown said...

I have ordered his book and look forward to finding out for myself his perspective. Of course it will be slanted towards his interests, but so what, we all pick and choose and support those who we either are simple blown away by their work (for whatever reason) or those with whom we have a connection and can help us along on this difficult journey.

Anonymous said...

Bob one of a kind. Someone once described him as the indy-rock of the art world, that was in the 90's.
He has done some very important shows.
He should be more academic and less emotional and it would serve him better.
In front of an audience he really shines. He needs an audience.
His curating has widened the definition of curating. But lately not-so much. Takes time to get to know him, first impressions are a disaster as far as he is concerned.