Joe Fyfe

Joe Fyfe - artist, art critic.

XO

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a gallery director it always annoys me the way he insists on promoting his own work while visiting the gallery as a critic. He used to continuously invite me to his studio and when I declined, he quit coming into the gallery. Look at the majority of the artists he reviews - young painters who can help him get in group shows around town. Some can do this with class, but Fyfe does it with crass.

Anonymous said...

i noticed this too, he uses his "critic" status to help his own career, and its very transparent.

Anonymous said...

I say he's an excellent arts writer and a decent artist; more power to him. He should be complimented, not criticized, for wearing both hats. It's his contribution that counts.

Anyone so concerned with following what they think are the correct "rules" of the art world shouldn't be in this profession in the first place. Artist, critic, curator, collector, gallerist, blogger, all of the above - or whatever you consider yourself.

Anony said...

While I like Joe and think he is a good painter and writer. And I agree that it is admirable to wear both hats. That being said, I agree with the first commenter 100%. He is way too pushy! It's a shame because he really can be a sweet and generous guy when he relaxes.

kalm james said...

Joe is a very persistent guy, and may come off as “driven”. People complaining about his tactics regarding his use of “critic’s status” to promote himself are obviously naïve, and ignorant of the long and rich history of the artist/critic dichotomy. He’s done some curatorial work that included dozens of artists in exhibitions that got serious attention. I like his work (collage fabric, not painting) and respect his writing from a formal abstract perspective, though his dry wit might come off as cranky. He once said, “My painting is like trying to play a grand piano very softly with a huge baseball bat”. Kinda poetic, no?

Anonymous said...

I think Joe Fyfe exemplifies the exact tone of what it means to be a true painter. I also believe his criticisms are on point and he has a right to toot his own horn. I love his paintings, they spark a true essence in the form of painting; light, vicious, griddy, with an underwash sediment, with a very timeless and totem-like pulse radiating through it. No smoke and mirrors. Here it is, it now exists, breathes and can stand on their own. It is sobering....

mel bernstine said...

i only had a little contact with him on FB, and from that i quickly ascertained that he is a creep (a self-centered control freak).