In Memoriam: Maurice Berger
Maurice Berger at the opening reception of “Revolution of the Eye: Modern Art and the Birth of American Television Presented at the Jewish Museum”, Image Courtesy of © James Estrin
Maurice Berger, a distinguished art curator who explored the problems of racism in the art world, dies at 63 from coronavirus complications.
"As a Jew, I have known anti-Semitism. As a gay man, I have known homophobia. But neither has seemed as relentless as the racism I witnessed growing up — a steady drumbeat of slights, thinly-veiled hostility and condescension perpetrated by even the most liberal and well-meaning people. It was painful to watch, and as my friends let me know, considerably more painful to endure."
His early experiences greatly influenced his principles and interests as his name gained importance in the 1990s, where he was among a handful of people talking about race and inequality at that time. His essay Are Art Museums Racist?, which has re-gained popularity recently, was published in Art of America and served as an outcry about the indifference of the white community to the problems of communities of color.
Berger curated numerous projects that echoed this thinking in the New Museum and The Whitney, amongst others. He also frequently contributed his essays to such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Art Forum and Brooklyn Rail. His progressive view and restless effort earned him an Infinity Award from the ICP in 2018 for his New York Times column.
His singular voice and contribution will be missed.
