Knight Landesman, the copublisher of Artforum, resigned on Wednesday, ArtNet News reports. Landesman’s resignation comes after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct. In a statement, the magazine admitted Landesman had ‘engaged in unacceptable behavior and caused a hostile work environment. We will do everything in our ability to bring our workplace in line with our editorial mission, and we will use this opportunity to transform Artforum into a place of transparency, equity, and with zero tolerance for sexual harassment of any kind.’
Landesman, one of the most high-profile and flamboyant figures at the American art magazine, has been accused of inappropriate behaviour by a number of women. Amanda Schmitt, a New York curator who started working at Artforum in 2009 when she was 21, is currently taking legal action. Landesman, her suit alleges, ‘singled her out for unwelcome sexual attention,’ subjecting her to questions about her sex life while ‘touching her, uninvited, on her hips, shoulders, buttocks, hands and neck.’
27 October 2017
