Guest of Cindy Sherman is an unusual documentary detailing the often cumbersome relationship between a well-known artist and a lesser-known human being. In this case, it’s Cindy Sherman and Paul H-O. I won’t spoil the outcome for you, but you can imagine that it doesn’t end well for Paul.
It’s easy to compare yourself to people in your profession, whether you know them or not. As a gallerist, you anticipate (and sometimes dread) The NY Times pick for “What to See in N.Y.C. Galleries Right Now.” More often than not, you receive quickly executed emails from galleries that were the ones to see, while yours was not.
As an artist, you anticipate the notifications from the grant you applied for, the competition you entered at the last moment, and the gallery that hasn’t had the time to write back yet.
And then you may see fellow artists, friends, and otherwise, receive those same grants, win that award, and hang boldly in your dream gallery while their show is included in the “What to See in N.Y.C Galleries right now.”
Good for them.
When Cindy Sherman visited my show, Penetration, she did so because she wanted to. At the time, my gallery was tucked away on the second floor of a building on 28th Street. Not easy to find. It turns out she had a friend in the exhibition, Joseph Heidecker, who had invited her.
An unassuming figure, she walked quietly through the exhibition, looking carefully at each work. It was only on her way out that she struck me as familiar, someone I should know or may have met. We exchanged brief pleasantries, and off she went out into the Chelsea ether.
I am thankful that I am not still wondering if that was really her years later. Her signature proved my suspicion. It gave me a warm glow inside. Maybe it was because the whole thing was just so normal. An artist was looking at other artists’ work, enjoying, studying, making mental notes on technique and whether each piece was likable or not.
I didn’t win a prize when she came in, and the NY Times certainly didn’t cover the event. She didn’t even buy anything.
But she reminded me that we are all playing on the same team, speaking a similar language and likely have more in common than we do differences.
We should applaud our art teammates when they soar. We know our day will come when we will be welcomed into the spotlight. As a community, we need to support one another, knowing that anything is possible, at any time.
Cindy Sherman is on my team, and I’m happy that I get the chance to play with her.
Classes & Notes
CENTER in Santa Fe is opening up applications for several timely grants
Fotografiska is hosting The Business of Photography, a 4-part series where leading industry professionals will discuss essential business information and practices in four categories: Gallery, Magazine, Book, and Agency.
My Difficult Viewing class is open for enrolment at ICP
Lucie Foundation Open Call: Carte Blanche
Enrollment deadline: Saturday, January 29th for Perfect Match with me, Elinor Carucci, and Alan Rapp
Coming Soon: Community Crit at The Photo Community and an expanded version of The Photographers Report
Complete Guide to Artist’s Opportunities in 2022
Michael Foley opened his gallery in the fall of 2004 after fourteen years of working with notable photography galleries, including Fraenkel Gallery, Howard Greenberg Gallery, and Yancey Richardson Gallery.
In 2002, Foley continued his interest in educating and working with artists by serving on the School of Visual Arts and International Center of Photography faculty. He currently teaches and lectures on contemporary photography issues at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In 2020, he founded The Photo Community, which offers classes and commentary on contemporary photography.
Foley lives and works on the Lower East Side of Manhattan with his wife, Maya.