David Hunt

David Hunt - curator, writer

Came to NY in 1999. No previous art background (no training or education, BA is in English). Within a few years is giving interviews and visiting art schools.

XOXO

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hits on female artists.

Buck Naked said...

So what.

Are you saying the artist's attractiveness or response to advances is a factor in the decision to exhibit the artist?

Anonymous said...

different commentor, but to answer your question. Yes to both. He has a horrible reputation for this. A mass email detailing some particularly bad conduct on his part nearly tanked his career in the late 90's.

Anonymous said...

Yes, avoid him if you are female or are male and have any morals whatsover.

Anonymous said...

yes: a groper! why does this person still get gigs? he's mostly despised, and with good reason.

Anonymous said...

The dude is better informed and has accomplished more in a brief time than the previous commentators probably will in their (collective) lifetimes.

Btw - he's actually a very likeable and generous guy, if you get to know him.

Anonymous said...

anony 6:53, is writing positive stuff about the worst people in the artworld on this blog some sort of piece? your fictional fluff comments are not going to help any artists prevent being groped by David or Yao, or slimed on by Finch.

Anonymous said...

Is denying someone their opinion part of your shtick? Maybe you'd be happier in a totalitarian society, like Wmsburg, for example.

It's easy to pigpile on the victim when you're just part of the faceless crowd.

Getting jiggy with Finch can be a barrel o fun: like mudwrestling at the Dubuque County Fair. I know some other folks who'd pay top dollar to cop a feel from the likes of Yau (not "Yao", btw) or Hunt. Could do a lot worse, for sure...

Anonymous said...

ew.

Anonymous said...

he was a total dick to me once at a bellwether after-opening party, but i'm told he's better now that he doesn't drink (i heard this about a year ago, so i don't know if it's still true, or if it was true then). i personally don't like the guy at all, but i've read some good writing from him.

Anonymous said...

I've had several dealings with David. I think he is a much better writer than curator or consultant. His curatorial projects tend to be a little too super-salon and thematic for my taste. Genius writer - a real way with words. Groper - yes, he has groped a few people. Drunk, he was. Sober, he was. Somewhere in between now - hopefully. But, when did the art world become a place for professionals? Characters have always made it the place to be - the drunks, the whores, the opinionated. He is a bit of a fast talker, but the hedge funders and power dealers dig that I bet, now that he's mostly a consultant. He has an amazing ability to cross-reference whatever he's looking at that second with a catalogue of contemporary art, history, music, popular culture - that's what makes him a great writer I think.

Anonymous said...

What a creep. Told me once that he "owns emerging artists." If you are at an opening or party or dinner that he is at and a woman runs out crying, it's probably Mr. Hunt's doing!! If he was in regular corporate America he would have been dismissed eons ago for sexual harassment.

kalm james said...

As a geezer, David has never hit on or groped me, and I won’t defend that type of behavior, but it’s not like that stuff never happens in the real world.

As an informed observer of the current art scene, he’s someone who doesn’t mince words, shots from the hip and has an opinion that he’s not afraid to voice, something that’s in short order these days. I’ve got to respect that, even though it’s delivered with a salesmen’s nonchalance.

Anonymous said...

he's really sharp. every time i've had him to my studio, it's been incredibly informative.

he's got an ego. and he hit on my lady friend.

but he's a good guy in the end.

Anonymous said...

I had a studio visit with him and he was very genuine and thoughtful. Later when I saw him on the street he was friendly one time but another time when he was talking to someone more important he completely gave me the brush off. It was like we had never met before. He literally looked right through me.
If the art world is like high school he is the geeky, smart kid who sometimes behaves like a jerk or drinks a case of wine coolers to fit in and will ditch you if someone more popular might like him. My feeling is he is an intelligent and nice person behaving badly.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely adore this dude. Honest.

kelli said...

I like him. My art dealer brought him to visit me a long time ago. I live an hour from Manhattan in the middle of nowhere ( Ditmas Park), he's allergic to cats, and he didn't have much to gain from the visit but it was a lot of fun and he was a good sport about traveling so far.

Anonymous said...

well...david is brillant guy, great writer, better writer than a curator if u ask me (his shows are not tight enough), he has hurt as many artists as he has helped i specifically know due to his ideaology that he found them and owns them in regards to sales and getting them represented..that being said he clearly has issues with women..i have been told the same that it was his drinking, but i was a victim of the pre-sober hunt at a private dinner where a collector was chatting with everyone, but for some reason he decided to focus his anger on me (or jealously whom knows?) "it must feel good to be hit on by a stupid rich collector" - hey verbal toughness is a little okay. i can take it. but then he got so angry about this he physically pushed me into the bar -(the collector honestly wasn't even hitting on me) ...i was told by a MALE art advisor that i dont want to name that i should listen to him because he was sooo SMART...I don't listen to people whom are like children bullying me on the playground. so i agree - people are characters in the art world, but this one is very MUCH an unpredictable male whom has gotten away with his abuse BECAUSE he was considered the boy genius whom "found" dana shutz (whom knows if that is really true?). ps- i have no issues with him being a male in art world, just how he has been excued for such abuse

Anonymous said...

Ok, if he pushed you, that's not cool. At all.

That said, in my experience this man has been nothing but supportive of me and shows genuine interest in my career. Not once has he ever made a move on me nor has he acted in a way that made me feel uncomfortable.

I have heard a lot of bad things about David, but I've never experienced any of them. The last show of his I saw was at Tracy Williams; I thought it was amazing and look forward to his next venture.