Unfiltered: Kenny Schachter’s Take on the Art World
Kenny Schachter is a true Renaissance man, working simultaneously as an art world commentator, university lecturer, artist, and curator. Despite his illustrious career in the art world, he began as a self-taught lawyer and only stumbled upon the field of art after passing the bar exam. It was Andy Warhol’s 1988 estate sale at Sotheby’s that inspired him to become a self-taught professor of art history.
In this episode of Swizz Art Biz, Kenny speaks with host Tanya König at the Suisse Podcast Festival about more than just art. He reflects on his initial life philosophy of “defining himself in the negative,” admitting to his early aimlessness while expressing an aversion to the idea of retirement. He recounts how his career in art has helped him overcome some of the most difficult moments in his life.
Despite the often-overcomplicated workings of the art world, Kenny attributes his success to the simple notion that “everyone has an opinion in the art world, but no one expresses it,” positioning himself as the exception. As to why, he explains that it’s a “zero-sum game” and that he isn’t particularly worried about where the next profitable opportunity may come from, as long as he can maintain his integrity and make a living.
That said, the life of an outspoken art critic comes with its own set of difficulties. Toward the end of the episode, Kenny recounts numerous occasions when he has been threatened with lawsuits over opinions he expressed or even physically attacked on the street. Nevertheless, he vows never to alter his true opinions as a result of external pressures. He demonstrates this resolve in the interview itself, critiquing what he sees as fundamental issues within the art world. These range from general phenomena, such as “pigeonholing” artists—a practice he views as a threat to his identity as a dilettante—to specific grievances, such as having to pay for the shipping of his works to his German gallery on top of the gallery commission.
Yet, regardless of the specificity of some stories or the occasional art world jargon, Kenny never fails to inspire through his storytelling. He serves as a source of motivation not only to artists but to anyone passionate about their career.
Video recorded by Moritz Schmid
Text by Marcell Márthon