Edward Winkleman

Edward Winkleman is an American author, consultant, and professor best known for his popular books on contemporary art and the international art market. Born in New York City in 1954, he was introduced to art early in his life, as his grandmother was an amateur painter who worked in the WPA projects in the 1930s. As a young adult, Winkleman went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UC Berkeley, where his interests in the cultural implications of art became a focus.

Moving to New York, he began a career as a freelance writer, writing for various print publications and online magazines. In 2002, he had his first book published, titled Art Shipping in the Digital Age. This book focused on the contemporary shipping and handling of art and art objects, both digital and physical artifacts. His book was well-received by critics, and his writing style was seen as a fresh approach to the topic.

Throughout the 2000s, Winkleman continued to write and published two more books—Art Collectors Now and The Art Market: How to Survive as an Artist. Both books took a critical look at the modern art market and its implications for artists, collectors, and other interested parties. In these books, Winkleman made the case for greater transparency and consideration for the role of the artist in the art market, an angle which had previously been lacking.

In 2012, Winkleman released a book titled Who Gets the Good Art? This work focused on the current geographical and social issues surrounding art, and how the cultural landscape is affected by global art practices. He took a particularly poignant look at the impact of restricted access to the art market on African-American creators, and how they may be excluded from the wider art-viewing public.

In the same year, he released his first novel, Ninth Street Women. The book follows the lives of Lee Krasner and five other New York artists who sought to elevate the status of abstract expressionism during pre-feminist art movements in the 1950s. The book was a critically acclaimed success and received the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

Throughout his career, Winkleman has not only been a prolific author but has also taught at numerous institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, New York University, and the University of Chicago. In recent years, Winkleman has shifted his focus towards consultancy, working with several galleries and private institutions as an advisor on art mergers and acquisitions, as well as leading seminars and workshops on the art market and its impacts.

Today, Winkleman remains a respected figure within the world of contemporary art, and his books have become essential reading for anybody wishing to learn more about the complexities, implications, and joys of the international art market. His books, both non-fiction and his novel, contain messages that all viewers of art should consider, serving to both educate and remind us of the nuances of the globalized art world.