David Velasco
BornOctober 23, 1978 (1978-10-23)[1]
Occupation(s)Editor, writer

David Velasco (born October 23, 1978[1]) is an American editor. He was the editor-in-chief of the art magazine Artforum from 2017 to 2023.[1] On October 26, 2023, he was fired after the magazine published an open letter signed by thousands of artists calling for a ceasefire in Gaza during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[2][3]

Early life

In 2000, Velasco earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Reed College. He would later earn a master's degree from New York University in social theory and humanities, in 2004.[4]

Career

In 2005, Velasco began working at Artforum.[5] He would become the site editor in 2008 and would frequently write features and columns on various artists, artwork, and events. He would also begin a series of books on modern dance published by Museum of Modern Art starting in 2016.[6]

In November 2017, he became the editor-in-chief of Artforum, succeeding Michelle Kuo.[6][1]

On October 26, 2023, he was fired by the magazine's publisher, Penske Media Corporation, after the publication reprinted an open latter, which received 8,000 signatories,[7] calling for a ceasefire in Gaza during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. The letter originally circulated as a Google document, and also appeared in e-flux and Hyperallergic.[2][8][9] Magazine publishers Danielle McConnell and Kate Koza stated that he violated the "standard editorial process" of the magazine with the letter, following a campaign of art collectors and advertisers who objected to the letter.[10] Velasco told The New York Times that he had no regrets, and that he was disappointed that Artforum "bent to outside pressure."[11][5][7] Several artists, including Nicole Eisenman and Nan Goldin, called for a boycott of Artforum in response to Velasco being fired.[12] Zack Hatfield, a senior editor for Artforum, announced he was leaving following the firing of Velasco, which he called "unacceptable." Four other editors also resigned.[13]

Personal life

In a 2018 interview with SSENSE, Velasco stated that he was a vegetarian like his boyfriend, Ryan McNamara. He relayed a story when he, and McNamara, were disappointed there wasn't "a vegetarian option" and added that he was "shocked because I assumed that most people in the art world would be vegetarians."[1] In a oral history interview, in June 2020, he noted that he was still in a relationship with McNamara.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Prickett, Sarah Nicole (2018). "First Interview: Artforum's New Editor-in-Chief David Velasco". SSENSE. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Small, Zachary (October 27, 2023). "Artforum Fires Top Editor After Its Open Letter on Israel-Hamas War". Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via New York Times.
  3. ↑ Veltman, Chloe (October 27, 2023). "Cultural figures find perils to speaking out and staying silent about Mideast crisis". NPR. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  4. ↑ "David Velasco". PMC. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Jhala, Kabir (October 27, 2023). "Artforum reportedly fires editor David Velasco over Israel-Hamas open letter". The Art Newspaper. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "David Velasco Succeeds Michelle Kuo as Editor in Chief of Artforum". November 1, 2017. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "The Editor of 'Artforum' Has Been Fired Over the Publication of a Pro-Palestine Open Letter". ArtNet. October 27, 2023. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ Frank, Joshua B. (October 27, 2023). "Artforum Editor Fired After Publishing Call for Cease-fire Signed By Thousands". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ Greenberger, Alex (October 27, 2023). "Artforum Fires Editor David Velasco After Publication of Letter About Ceasefire in Gaza". Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ Lawson-Tancred, Jo (October 25, 2023). "Following Backlash, Artists Including Peter Doig and Tomás Saraceno Quietly Retracted Support From a Pro-Palestine Petition". ArtNet. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  11. ↑ Press, Alex N. (October 27, 2023). "Artforum's Editor Just Got Axed After Printing a Letter Opposing Israel's Assault on Gaza". Jacobin. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  12. ↑ Small, Zachary (October 27, 2023). "Artists Call for Boycott After Artforum Fires Its Top Editor". New York Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  13. ↑ Oladipo, Gloria (October 29, 2023). "Prominent US figures face backlash and firings for pro-Palestinian statements". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  14. ↑ Velasco, David (June 30, 2020). "Oral history interview with David Velasco, 2020 June 30". Archives of American Art (Interview). Interviewed by Jacob Proctor. Brooklyn, New York: Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
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