Art World: Looking Ahead to Post-Pandemic 2022

For the past two years, the art world, like nearly every other part of life, has been defined by Covid and the hysteria around it. Every day felt like a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, if not from the grim death counts, then from the grim quackery of Dr. Tony the Phony, seemingly on every TV channel at all times. The Covid crackup will inform one or two of 2022’s big art issues but, blessedly, not all of them.

In 2020, when America’s art aristocracy, its museum directors, forgot that epidemics come and go, the Association of Art Museum Directors suspended its holy writ against selling art for budget relief for a two-year period only. Panicked as it was, the AAMD feared that lockdowns and a purposely collapsed economy would beggar museums. As a last resort, those on the brink of insolvency could monetize collections.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

For the past two years, the art world, like nearly every other part of life, has been defined by Covid and the hysteria around it. Every day felt like a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, if not from the grim death counts, then from the grim quackery of Dr. Tony the Phony, seemingly on every TV channel at all times. The Covid crackup will inform one or two of 2022’s big art issues but, blessedly, not all of them.

In 2020, when America’s art aristocracy, its museum directors, forgot that epidemics come and go, the Association of Art Museum Directors suspended its holy writ against selling art for budget relief for a two-year period only. Panicked as it was, the AAMD feared that lockdowns and a purposely collapsed economy would beggar museums. As a last resort, those on the brink of insolvency could monetize collections.