Artist's Assistant Explained

Artists assistants work with, and often under direct instruction from, artists in the production or preparation of art works.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Many famous and influential artist have worked with assistants including Barbara Hepworth[6] and David Hockney[7]

Famous assistants

While the names of many artists assistants are never known, some artists assistants have become famous in their own right either as artists[8] [9] or for their role as assistants.[10] One of the most famous is Salaì who was assistant and pupil of Leonardo da Vinci.

Controversy

The use of artists assistants has been a controversial issue. The controversy primarily focuses on the assistants not being acknowledged for their work and questions of what constitutes art.[11] David Hockney described Damian Hirst's use of assistants as, "It's a little insulting to craftsmen, skilful craftsmen."[12] This was in response to Hirst's use of assistants to paint his spot paintings.[13] The contemporary artist Jeff Koons uses assistants in a similar way, “I’m basically the idea person," he told an interviewer, "I’m not physically involved in the production. I don’t have the necessary abilities, so I go to the top people.”[14]

There have also been exhibitions about the relationship between artist and assistant such as that at the New York gallery Luxembourg & Dayan which hosted ‘In the Making: Artists, Assistants, and Influence’ – a show tracing the link between artists and their (eventually famous) assistants in 2016[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ARTIST ASSISTANTS - The World Of Anonymous Helpers. Widewalls. 2019-02-21.
  2. Web site: What It's Really Like to Be an Artist Assistant. www.format.com. 2019-02-21.
  3. Web site: Artquest. Artquest. en. 2019-02-21.
  4. Web site: Art Demystified: Why Artists Use Studio Assistants. 2016-07-14. artnet News. en-US. 2019-02-21.
  5. Web site: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Assistant. Beck. Graham T.. The Brooklyn Rail. 2019-02-21. 2008-02-06.
  6. Web site: 'I know this sculpture well. It's an old friend' Christie's. www.christies.com. en. 2019-02-21.
  7. News: Like every great artist, David Hockney needs his circle. Daily Telegraph. Bayley. Stephen. 2013-03-19. 2019-02-21. en-GB. 0307-1235.
  8. News: The Chapman Brothers on life as artists' assistants: 'We did our daily penance'. Jeffries. Stuart. 2013-03-23. The Guardian. 2019-02-21. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  9. Web site: Titian, the renaissance master from Venice.. Italian Renaissance Art.com. 2019-02-21.
  10. Web site: Five of the Most Influential Artists' Assistants. AnOther. 2016-07-13. AnOther. en. 2019-02-21.
  11. Web site: Trickier Affairs. Hafner. Hans-Jürgen . 2015-11-18.
  12. News: Hockney criticises Hirst method. 2012-01-03. 2019-02-21. en-GB.
  13. News: Damien Hirst: assistants make my spot paintings but my heart is in them all. Daily Telegraph. Singh. Anita. 2012-01-12. 2019-02-21. en-GB. 0307-1235.
  14. News: I Was Jeff Koons's Studio Serf. Powers. John. 2012-08-17. The New York Times. 2019-02-21. en-US. 0362-4331.
  15. Web site: Helping hand: Luxembourg & Dayan explores the role of the artist's assistant. Magazine. Wallpaper*. 2016-02-29. Wallpaper*. 2019-02-21.

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