Will
Fenstermaker

Will
Fenstermaker

ARCHIVE: All SELECTED 2022 2021 2020 2019 BEYOND

Selected Writing

A black-and-white photograph of a man holding a photograph of the Shroud of Turin showing the face of Jesus Christ or Leonardo Da Vinci

Why Do We Believe in Photographs?

David Levi Strauss’s new book looks at the ancient roots of photography to understand how the medium became so distorted in the present.

The Nation 2021

A photograph of a smorgasbord made of ceramic, including a honeyed ham, deviled eggs and candles all laid out on the table. The sculptures are by Genesis Belanger.

Genesis Belanger’s Scrumptious Last Supper

The artist’s stoneware smorgasbord offers a feminist critique of domestic life in the presence of death.

Frieze 2021

Adam Curtis’s Theory of Everything

The idiosyncratic director’s latest film paints a picture of the world that is so complex, dense and theoretical that the prospect of real change appears nearly impossible.

Dissent 2021

A painting by Jasper Johns depicting three US flags overlaid on top of each other

The Formulaic Juxtapositions of Jasper Johns

A massive two-museum survey focused on the famed artist’s legacy bypasses new readings of his work.

Frieze 2021

A photograph of a newspaper opened to a spread depicting a table of contents in bold typography

To Declare a New World

Few manifestos remain in the public consciousness for long and fewer still have defined entire eras. Yet they are one way to understand the history of artistic exchange.

The Brooklyn Rail 2021

A photograph of an absurd stage play featuring an enormous bloated king, his ridiculous queen and a knight, all jeering at the audience. The play is Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry.

The Twisted Legacy of Alfred Jarry’s Monsters

A recent retrospective illustrates the absurd influence of the pataphysician’s artistic and philosophical creations.

The Nation 2020

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