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Klaus Kertess Edit Profile

writer art critic

Klaus Kertess was an American writer, art gallerist, critic and curator. His Bykert Gallery in New York helped launch the careers of numerous artists.

Background

Klaus Kertess was born on July 16, 1940, in New York, United States. He was the son of F. A. Kertess, a businessman, and Kate (Daasch) Kertess.

Education

Kertess obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in history of art from the Yale University in 1962, two years later he received his Master of Arts degree there. He also attended the Universities of Cologne and Bonn from 1963 till 1964.

Career

Kertess founded the Bykert Gallery in 1966, serving as its director till 1975. There he showed a roster of artists such as Brice Marden, David Novros, Barry Le Va, Alan Saret, Chuck Close, Bill Bollinger and Dorothea Rockburne.

Kertess was a Robert Lehman curator of the Parrish Art Museum from 1983 till 1989. Beginning from that year he served as an adjunct curator of drawing of the Whitney Museum of American Art, he stayed there till 1995.

In addition, Kertess was the author of short stories published in periodicals, including Sun and Moon, Bomb, and Fruit; and was also the author of art criticisms published in periodicals, such as Artforum, Art in America, Arts, Parkett, House and Garden, Elle, Elle Decor, Vogue, and Out. He wrote numerous museum exhibition catalogue essays.

Achievements

  • Kertess was mostly known as a founder of the Bykert Gallery.

Works

All works

Interests

  • Sport & Clubs

    swimming, yoga

Connections

Father:
F. A. Kertess

Mother:
Kate (Daasch) Kertess