Art Department

By Derrick Taruc

     It was recently announced that Jeffrey Deitch is going to be the new director of Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art, a move that some are calling “controversial.” What's the big deal? And who is this Jeffrey Deitch anyway? According to his bio (from Deitch.com), Deitch is “a dealer in modern and contemporary art and an art advisor to private and institutional art collectors.” It goes on: “Mr. Deitch was a Vice President of Citibank where he spent nine years developing and managing the bank’s art advisory and art finance businesses.” Pretty impressive. But why the controversy?

Jeffrey Deitch

      NYmag.com hints with its opening sentence to an article about the appointment: “It looks like the sacrosanct wall between museums, galleries, and private collectors in the art world is about to come down.” Okay. It goes on: “American museums usually pick directors from the curatorial or academic ranks; none have ever been run by a former gallery owner.” So, Deitch, a very successful commercial gallery owner, is going to work for a non-profit institution. There's a fear that Deitch's appointment to MOCA will inadvertently benefit the artists, dealers, and collectors he is and has associated with. To paraphrase, there's a possible conflict of interest. Deitch, well aware of this, was quoted in a Los Angeles Times article: “I'm just going to stop all commercial activity. The gallery will be over.” And so will his work as an art consultant to collectors. The Times continues: “In the future, he says he will acquire less expensive work by less established artists, while complying with museum-world ethical guidelines designed to ensure that a director puts the museum's interests first and doesn't use the position for personal enrichment.” For someone as connected as Deitch, it sounds easier said than done.

      Some people are bugging because Deitch is an insider; an insider who may stand to benefit in more ways than one. But in a town of insiders, Deitch becomes just yet another insider. It's LA—that's who this town is made of. To this writer, it's all good—a great fit for a great institution and a great city.