Challenging traditional art hierarchies and recontextualising photography with New York gallerist Bruce Silverstein

Subtext and Discourse | Art World Podcast

In part two of our conversation with New York gallerist Bruce Silverstein, we delve deeper into his evolving gallery vision, his commitment to challenging traditional art hierarchies, and his dedication to championing overlooked artists.

Bruce reflects on the inaugural exhibition at his new gallery location, Photographer as Sculptor, Sculptor as Photographer, which encapsulates decades of his thought on the fluidity of artistic mediums.

He shares insights into how artists like Constantin Brancusi, Henry Moore and Edward Weston have blurred the lines between photography and sculpture, often using the camera as an intrinsic part of their creative process rather than just a documentary tool.
The episode also covers Bruce's proactive efforts to address historical biases in the art world, particularly his work with overlooked African-American photographers from the Kamoinge group, such as Chester Higgins, and his promotion of Native American artists like Sarah Sense and Dakota Mace.

As well as the innovative approaches of contemporary artists Shinichi Maruyama and Marianne Tuijn, whose works seamlessly blend photography with performance, painting, and sculptural interventions.

Timestamps

(00:00) – Introduction and welcome

(02:00) – One month in new gallery location and reflecting on the move

(05:49) – Photographer as Sculptor, Sculptor as Photographer exhibition

(09:30) – Constantin Brancusi - Romanian sculptor, photographer, and painter

(19:03) – Expanding the scope of the gallery beyond photography

(25:59) – The purpose of contemporary art and our relationship to it

(28:28) – Recognition of overlooked Black artists

(32:33) – Kamoinge group (1963) of New York City based African American photographers

(34:42) – Chester Higgins - African American photographer

(37:07) – Sarah Sense and Dakota Mace - Native American artists

(43:51) – Contemporary photographers redefining the medium

(44:49) – Shinichi Maruyama - Japanese photographer

(48:00) – Marjan Teeuwen - Dutch artist

(51:31) – Future exhibitions and plans for the new gallery space

Bruce Silverstein is a leading New York gallerist specialising in modern and contemporary photography. After a successful career on Wall Street, he founded the Bruce Silverstein Gallery in 2001, quickly becoming known for his innovative exhibitions and advocacy for under-represented artists. Bruce’s curatorial approach challenges traditional boundaries, integrating photography with other art forms and re-contextualizing overlooked voices in the art world.

- Bruce Silverstein Gallery official website https://brucesilverstein.com/
- Follow Bruce Silverstein Gallery on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brucesilverstein/

This episode of Subtext & Discourse Art World Podcast was recorded on 8. May 2025 between Perth (AU) and New York (US) with Riverside.

Michael Dooney official website: https://www.michaeldooney.net

Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldooney/