All images courtesy of Maccarone Gallery, New York.

Vice

Vice: I remember when we were at Barnard you were already working at galleries.

Michele Maccarone:

How did you get started so early?

Are you from New York?

Even in high school?

Were your parents into art?

You started working at Luhring Augustine while you were in college too, right? And you eventually became the director.

Did you ever want to be an artist?

So you wanted to be in charge of art rather than making it.

ass

How do you keep in touch with what’s going on in the art world now?

Artforum

Oh, you’re exaggerating.

Installation shot of Christoph Büchel’s show at Maccarone Gallery, 2001.

You mentioned the collectors; tell me more about the kind of language you use with them. Like, are collectors actually interested in critical theory?

I knew it! I knew academia was completely inconsequential.

Turns to Ellen Langan, the gallery director

Collectors are the most mysterious part of the art world to me. Who are these people? Where do they come from? How do you find them?

They need references? To be a collector, you can’t just be like, “Oh, here, take my check for $100,000 please?”

I know artists sometimes hang out with their collectors. It seems like a weird relationship. Are the collectors kind of buying entry into a social scene?

After being at Luhring Augustine, did you know you wanted to open up your own gallery?

You were just walking down the street?

I always wondered if the awning originally said that or if you painted that on.

Right, I kick myself for not going to that.

Sure.

Isn’t that good in a way? The flip side of crazy is exciting.

Well, how do you actually sell something like the Büchel installation?

Installation shot of Paul McCarthy’s chocolate factory at Maccarone Gallery, 2007.

Looking back through all the shows you’ve done, it seems like you’re really interested in art that crumbles and destroys a gallery space.

No, unfortunately I missed it.

So you form opinions instantaneously?

I’m sure the artists are grateful for that honesty.

How do you find artists that you want to represent?

Do you have a favorite show, or is it like, “They’re all my babies”?

Which one? Do you have a picture?

Artforum

Shows me the photo in the magazine

I’ve heard of that, but I’m not sure what it entails.

Wow, I love that.

How do you judge if a show is a success?

Artforum

I don’t want to forget to ask you about your old Canal Street space. Whenever I mention it you scrunch your face up in disgust. Why is that?

Oscar Tuazon, Tonapah, 2008. Wood, steel, metal, winches, cement.

When you opened the gallery in 2001, there weren’t any galleries down there. Was Rivington Arms even there?

But why do you have such a negative reaction to the old gallery?

Terence Koh lives there now and has his gallery there.

sways to the side

But that’s what people loved, right?

Was it more glamorous when you were at Luhring Augustine?

It’s a good trick, though, because as a casual gallerygoer, you can’t tell. The end result is so polished.

Do you get to travel a lot?

What, like art fairs?

I guess it’s better if someone’s sending you.

Who is your favorite artist, and who do you think is the most overrated?

Ooh, tell me a Cy Twombly bit.

Umm… I’m embarrassed, but I don’t get it. I mean, I know who Cy Twombly and Dan Graham are, but maybe I don’t know enough about them to get the punch line?

That’s crazy.

I can’t tell if you’re kidding. Are you really doing stand-up?

Do you have any other jokes?