Cindy Sherman Joins Art World's Condemnation of Knight Landesman's Sexual Harassment

Cindy Sherman joined other powerful people in the art world -- including 7000 women -- to denounce sexual harassment by people like the late October 2017 resignation of Knight Landesman. Known for his colorful suits, the co-publisher of arts magazine Artforum resigned after a lawsuit was filed by Amanda Schmitt accusing him of sexual harassment against eight other people. 

"We are artists, arts administrators, assistants, curators, directors, editors, educators, gallerists, interns, scholars, students, writers and more - workers of the art world - and we have been groped, undermined, harassed, infantilised, scorned, threatened and intimidated by those in positions of power who control access to resources and opportunities," the letter read.

The text was titled "Not Surprised", in reference to a work by prominent artist Jenny Holzer, known for her installations with broad statements.

"Abuse of power comes as no surprise," the letter read. 

"The resignation of one publisher from one high-profile magazine does not solve the larger, more insidious problem: An art world that upholds inherited power structures at the cost of ethical behaviour," it continued.

"We have been silenced, ostracised, pathologized, dismissed as 'overreacting' and threatened when we have tried to expose sexually and emotionally abusive behaviour.

"We will be silenced no longer."