Wednesday 5 October 2022 06:45 PM Guggenheim curator scapegoated into quitting after Black art expert she'd ... trends now
The former chief curator for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was forced to step down after a Black-art expert that she brought in turned on her and branded her experience with the museum as 'the most racist professional experience of' her life.
A new retelling of the events published by The Atlantic shares the story of how Nancy Spector, a well respected curator who worked for the New York institution for decades, was scapegoated and deemed a 'racist' in the public eye.
Spector, however, had been cleared of wrongdoing, especially pertaining to racist acts or words against her peers, by an independent investigation.
In 2016, after curating an art exhibit featuring Jean-Michel Basqiat's painting, 'Defacement,' Chaédria LaBouvier was reached out to by Spector, who wanted to curate a new exhibit which would include the painting.
Spector (left) and LaBouvier's allegedly contentious relationship first began in 2016
Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Defacement,' also called 'The Death of Michael Stewart,' is the artwork that started the years long saga between Spector and LaBouvier
Now in her 60s, Spector is considered a pariah from the art world after being labeled 'racist' and a 'bully' despite being cleared by an external investigation
'Defacement' became famous for its depiction of the death of Michael Stewart, a Black man who died in police custody after being arrested by New York City Police officers over alleged graffiti.
Spector helped LaBouvier, opening the door to the highly exclusive art world.
The former chief curator for the Guggenheim took LaBouvier under her wing, mentoring her on the ins and outs of the work.
The relationship helped LaBouvier to create a definitive name for herself in the art world.
Spector, a 34 year veteran with the Guggenheim, resigned in 2020 despite an investigation revealed that she had not acted out of turn with LaBouvier
Less than five years later, however, Spector was out at the Guggenheim and LaBouvier was referring to her as Amy Cooper, the white woman dubbed 'Central Park Karen' for calling the police on a Black man who was bird watching.
The real issues began when LaBouvier submitted an essay proposal for the exhibit, which Spector and members of her staff said was not up to par.
Spector told her that major chunks of the essay would need to be revised for various reasons. The group said her work was 'poorly written.'
LaBouvier was insulted and even attempted to persuade those involved in the projects to back out.
The Black-art curator said that Spector suggested that she help to rewrite it and co-author it.
'I said f**k no & fought back,' LaBouvier later said in a tweet.
The Guggenheim is one of the most famous museums in the world, bringing in millions of visitors each year
The woman, insulted, then allegedly attempted to persuade artists in the catalogue to withdraw from the
