12 Facts About Willoughby Sharp

Willoughby Sharp was an American artist, independent curator, independent publisher, gallerist, teacher, author, and telecom activist.

Willoughby Sharp published three monographs on contemporary artists, contributed to many exhibition catalogues, and wrote on art for Artforum, Art in America, Arts magazine, Laica Journal, Quadrum and Rhobo.

Willoughby Sharp received numerous grants, awards, and fellowships; both as an individual or under the sponsorship of non-profit arts organizations.

Willoughby Sharp received his BA from Brown University in 1957, where he studied art history.

Willoughby Sharp then undertook graduate study in art history at the University of Paris, the University of Lausanne, finishing at Columbia University, where he studied under Meyer Schapiro.

Willoughby Sharp's work has been seen in many group shows in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

In 1971, Willoughby Sharp created Points of View: A Taped Conversation with Four Painters, for Arts Magazine, a live interview with painters: Ronnie Landfield, Brice Marden, Larry Poons, and John Walker.

In 1958, Willoughby Sharp met Joseph Beuys in Dusseldorf and maintained a close, collaborative relationship until Beuys' death in 1986.

Willoughby Sharp was influential in bringing Beuys' work to the attention of the American art world.

In 1972, Willoughby Sharp produced the Beuys Videoview which constituted Beuys' first solo show at Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, Inc.

Willoughby Sharp produced Public Dialogue in which Beuys performed as part of the Videoperformance exhibition Sharp curated din 1974.

In 1974, at Beuys' request, Willoughby Sharp videotaped I Like America, America Likes Me, his performance at the Rene Block Gallery, New York City, which has been released as America.