On her art blog, Tyler Green is offering an interesting view on a recent press release of the De Young Museum in San Fransisco which announced an exhibition of surrealist Enrico Donati’s work. She is suggesting that the museum went too far by also mentioning/endorsing an exhibition of the same artist in a local commercial gallery. She wonders why the city’s “most distinguished museum is shilling for a commercial gallery show?!”

The museum’s move should’n't come as a surprise. The phenomenon of museums that are teaming up with commercial galleries is widespread and enables many young and more established artists to present their work, without having to persuade unwilling private collectors to lend out their work to museums. Collaborations between museums and galleries are not corrupt per se, but should always respect the artistic indepence of both the museum and the artist in question. But after reading the concerning press release one can easily question the ‘moral persistence’ of this particular museum.

Go to website De Young Museum