David Gibson Writer & Critic
DAVID GIBSON
David Gibson is a New York-based professional writer in art and literary circles whose work has developed through nearly three decades of sustained engagement. Gibson began in the mid-1990s, cutting his wings in a myriad of small Downtown magazines such as Cover Arts, NY Soho Arts, Zingmagazine, The Exhibitionist, and C Magazine out of Toronto, where he wrote about artists including Roxy Paine, Annette Messager, On Kawara, Mona Hatoum, Nancy Spero, and Moyra Davey. During the late Nineties and early Ought, Gibson expanded this practice through contributions to Flash Art, Performing Arts Journal, and other publications. His subjects ranged from individual artists and gallery exhibitions to broader questions of artistic practice and cultural context. Later writing appeared in Art Notes, Artillery Magazine, and Frieze, where he reviewed exhibitions by Dike Blair and David Adamo.
Then he began a period focused upon curating, which absorbed his writing practice. For nearly two decades, his direct engagement with artists—in their studios, in exhibitions, through public discussions, and in the process of developing exhibitions—provided another way of understanding how works of art acquire meaning. Rather than separating these activities, Gibson’s writing has increasingly drawn upon the knowledge accumulated through this sustained proximity to artistic practice.
Gibson has written catalogue and exhibition texts for individual artists, galleries, arts organizations, and publications, addressing practices in painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, installation, and conceptual art. His essays have accompanied exhibitions and projects in New York and elsewhere in the United States as well as internationally. More recent subjects have included Saint Clair Cemin, Gregory de la Haba, Nolan Preece, Lorien Suarez-Kanerva, Jeremiah Chechik, Leah Oates, Rebecca Hackemann, and Peggy Bates.
Since 2020, writing has again become the primary focus of Gibson’s practice. Through essays, criticism, book and exhibition reviews, interviews, and independently published work, he has developed a form of writing that moves between close observation, art history, biography, and reflection on the circumstances through which art is made and understood. His current work continues an interest that has remained present throughout his career: the relationship between the individual work of art and the larger structures of experience, memory, culture, and history that give it resonance. His email newsletter, The Other Side of the Desk, active since January 2021, has provided a wide open platform connected to a vibrant community of writers and readers, many of whom have remained his subscribers since years before.
TESTIMONIALS
David Gibson is an incredible writer and curator and knows the art business very well. He has written an essay for my website which was complemented by others. He also gives great studio visits and has a very keen eye.
–PEGGY BATES, Artist
David Gibson knows about art— how to look at it, think about it, write about it. He makes connections that might not be immediately apparent. His voice is lyrical and his perceptions insightful.
–MARGOT SPINDELMAN, Artist
David Gibson's knowledge of Postwar and contemporary art is deep and broad. Growing up in the presence of a storied list of influential artists of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, has given David a rare perspective on art and the art world, one that can only be read about these days. He combines invaluable experience and knowledge into a curatorial and writing style that is insightful, smart and meaningful. His writing style is deep but not heady which makes it refreshing and appealing. If he doesn’t know (or enough), he takes the time to educate himself - he researches, reads and asks questions. His contributions for my recent catalogue for my showing at the 2025 IFPDA Print Fair were above and beyond what I expected in every way. I look forward to collaborating with him again.
–DONALD TAGLIATELLA, Founding Director of World Gallery in Middlebury, CT
Born and raised in New York City, David Gibson has been immersed in the artsfrom an early age. David’s profound insight into art is matched, with equal vigor, by his exceptional intellect when it comes to writing about it.
—GREGORY DE LA HABA, Artist
I have known David Gibson for many years now and have followed his curating and art writing with interest over this time frame. David is steadfast, astute and is a brilliant curator and writer. I opened a gallery approximately five years ago on the Lower East Side in NYC and immediately invited David to curate shows at my gallery Station Independent Projects. I wanted to work with David, as he is professional, his shows are striking and timeless and he is a professional on all levels. I highly recommend David Gibson to other galleries, museums and art non-profits who are looking to work with talented independent curators like David and to artists that are looking for professional advice, promotion or to connect with a true professional who knows the art business inside and out.
–LEAH OATES, Director of Station Independent Projects
I call David Gibson a poetic essayist. He has written about my collages. His experience in the gallery world, deep immersion in literature and vast knowledge of art history give especial heft to his writing. He knows how to present images on his site with visual impact. He is a man of his word,- always prompt. He is generous in offering advice- exhibition opportunities and names of curators.
–BERNICE SOKOL KRAMER, Artist
David Gibson was invaluable in the writing of my artist’s statement. I hardly knew the importance of having one before I met him, and I left the workshop with enough inspiration to write three. I am confident that meeting David was a game-changer, and I now feel properly prepared to advance my career.
–GOLDIE GROSS, Artist