New York Armory Show: Good Art Amid the Bad

Aclose friend, an art historian with good, catholic taste, sent me a text message from the high-end opening of the Armory Show. He knew I was planning to visit the next day. “Never saw so much 💩💩💩,” he wrote, the ultimate in succinct, accessible art criticism. I like an apt emoji, and “happy horsesh**” isn’t entirely inapt in describing this year’s show, which, with 240 dealers, is New York’s biggest. I’ve used a new one — 🫃🏻 (the pregnant man emoji, in case it’s not appearing on your device) — when a word like “insane” just doesn’t seem tough enough.

The pregnant man emoji is next to one for Tinker Bell, Peter Pan’s muse. Someone in Emoji Land has a sense of humor, or decorum. She signals toward him, or her, since men can’t get pregnant, as if to say “you silly ass” to those dumb, demented souls who believe otherwise.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

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

Aclose friend, an art historian with good, catholic taste, sent me a text message from the high-end opening of the Armory Show. He knew I was planning to visit the next day. “Never saw so much 💩💩💩,” he wrote, the ultimate in succinct, accessible art criticism. I like an apt emoji, and “happy horsesh**” isn’t entirely inapt in describing this year’s show, which, with 240 dealers, is New York’s biggest. I’ve used a new one — 🫃🏻 (the pregnant man emoji, in case it’s not appearing on your device) — when a word like “insane” just doesn’t seem tough enough.

The pregnant man emoji is next to one for Tinker Bell, Peter Pan’s muse. Someone in Emoji Land has a sense of humor, or decorum. She signals toward him, or her, since men can’t get pregnant, as if to say “you silly ass” to those dumb, demented souls who believe otherwise.