Art in America
An American magazine and digital publication focused on contemporary art, artists, criticism, exhibitions, and the wider art world.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Art in America is an American art magazine whose editorial focus is contemporary art in the United States and the international art world. Its coverage has traditionally combined artist profiles, criticism, exhibition reviews, reporting on art movements, discussion of galleries and institutions, and practical information about shows and events. The publication is aimed at a specialist but broad readership that includes artists, collectors, dealers, curators, museum professionals, critics, educators, and readers seeking sustained coverage of contemporary practice. The magazine was founded in New York City in 1913 by Frederic Fairchild Sherman. Wilhelm Valentiner, a Renaissance scholar and museum professional, served as its first editor. Its launch occurred shortly before the Armory Show, the influential 1913 exhibition that introduced many American audiences to European modernism and avant-garde art. In its early decades, Art in America concentrated more heavily on traditional European art than it would later, and from 1921 through 1939 it used the expanded title Art in America and Elsewhere. Sherman became editor in 1917 and remained associated with the magazine until his death in 1940. By then, circulation had dropped below 200. Jean Lipman assumed ownership and editorial leadership, publishing the magazine from her home in Cannondale, Connecticut, with her husband managing business affairs. Her tenure helped preserve the publication and laid the groundwork for later expansion. Lee A. Ault and other investors acquired the magazine in 1957. During the late 1950s and 1960s, the publication broadened its criticism and review sections and began engaging more directly with recent artistic developments, including movements that it had previously treated cautiously. Ault’s investment supported larger production and circulation growth; by 1962, circulation was reported at approximately 18,000. In 1969, Whitney Communications Corporation acquired the magazine. Under the Whitney ownership, Brian O’Doherty and later Elizabeth C. Baker led the editorial operation. The magazine increased its publishing frequency from six issues annually to ten in 1979 and reported circulation of about 45,000 at that time. Brant Publications, founded by businessman Peter Brant, bought Art in America in 1984. Baker remained editor until 2008, completing a three-decade tenure during which reported circulation rose to approximately 75,000. She was succeeded by Marcia E. Vetrocq, followed by Lindsay Pollock in 2011. In 2015, Brant Publications sold Art in America and related magazine brands to ARTnews SA, the parent company of ARTnews. The transaction brought the two historically competing publications into the same corporate structure and resulted in the Art in America website being incorporated into the ARTnews digital platform. In 2016, the brands were repurchased under the newly organized Art Media Holdings structure. Penske Media Corporation acquired Art in America and ARTnews from Brant Publications in 2018. The acquisition placed the title within a large media portfolio that also includes entertainment, business, lifestyle, and cultural publications. William S. Smith, who had become editor in 2017, left in 2021 to join the Hong Kong contemporary art museum M+. Sarah Douglas, already editor of ARTnews, then became co-editor of both publications. During the period following the ownership changes and integration with ARTnews, Art in America reduced its print frequency, first to six issues per year and later to four quarterly issues. Today, Art in America operates as a contemporary-art editorial brand with print and digital dimensions. Its articles are published online through the ARTnews website, while the title retains a distinct identity and historical role in American art journalism. Across more than a century, the publication has moved from a traditional art review quarterly to a specialist media brand covering artists, movements, exhibitions, i…
History
Art in America began in New York City in 1913 as a quarterly publication founded by Frederic Fairchild Sherman. Wilhelm Valentiner was appointed its first editor. The magazine appeared shortly before the Armory Show, a landmark exhibition that helped bring European modernist and avant-garde art to wider attention in the United States. Although the publication later became strongly associated with contemporary art, its early editorial orientation was more focused on established European art. From 1921 to 1939, it was published under the title Art in America and Elsewhere. Sherman took over editorial leadership in 1917 and continued in that role until his death in 1940. The magazine’s circulation had fallen below 200 by the time of his death. Jean Lipman then became owner and editor, working with her husband as business manager and publishing the magazine from their home in Cannondale, Connecticut. Lipman had first joined the publication in the 1930s and helped maintain its continuity during a difficult period. In 1957, publisher and investor Lee A. Ault acquired Art in America with several other investors. The magazine subsequently expanded its coverage of criticism and exhibition reviews and became more open to newer artistic developments, including movements that had received limited attention in its earlier years. The investment also supported more ambitious production and circulation growth. By 1962, reported circulation had reached 18,000. Ault remained president and publisher until 1969, when Whitney Communications Corporation, owned by John Hay Whitney, purchased the publication. Brian O’Doherty, formerly associated with The New York Times, became editor after Lipman’s departure in 1970. He was followed by Elizabeth C. Baker in 1974. Under Baker, the publication increased its frequency from six issues annually to ten in 1979 and reported circulation of roughly 45,000. The magazine’s editorial reputation developed around a mixture of critical writing, reviews, artist coverage, and reporting on the institutions and professional networks shaping American art. Brant Publications purchased Art in America in 1984. Baker remained editor until 2008, when she became editor-at-large after three decades in the position. Marcia E. Vetrocq succeeded her, and Lindsay Pollock became editor in 2011. In 2015, Brant Publications sold Art in America and other magazine brands to ARTnews SA. The two art titles were brought into the same corporate structure, and Art in America’s website was absorbed into the ARTnews website. The following year, the publications were repurchased under Art Media Holdings. Penske Media Corporation acquired Art in America and ARTnews in 2018. William S. Smith, who had become editor in 2017, left in 2021 to join M+, a contemporary art museum in Hong Kong. Sarah Douglas, editor of ARTnews, then became co-editor of both titles. Following the ownership changes and digital integration, Art in America reduced its print schedule, moving first to six issues per year and later to a quarterly format. The publication now functions as both a print magazine and an online editorial brand. Its digital articles appear on the ARTnews website, while the Art in America name continues to identify a distinct publication with a long history in American art journalism. Its coverage encompasses contemporary artists, art movements, exhibitions, galleries, museums, criticism, collectors, and the broader systems through which art is produced, exhibited, discussed, and circulated.
- 2021
Sarah Douglas becomes co-editor
[1]Douglas assumes joint editorial leadership of Art in America and ARTnews after Smith leaves.
- 2018
Penske Media Corporation acquires the title
[1]PMC purchases Art in America and ARTnews from Brant Publications.
- 2017
William S. Smith becomes editor
[1]Smith, a co-founder of Triple Canopy, is appointed editor after Pollock’s departure.
- 2016
Repurchase under Art Media Holdings
[1]Art in America and ARTnews are repurchased from ARTnews SA under a new Art Media Holdings structure.
- 2015
Sale to ARTnews SA
[1]Art in America is sold alongside other Brant Publications titles to the company behind ARTnews.
- 2011
Lindsay Pollock becomes editor
[1]The art-market journalist and Bloomberg News reporter takes over the editorship.
- 2008
Baker steps down as editor
[1]After 30 years as editor, Baker becomes editor-at-large and Marcia E. Vetrocq succeeds her.
- 1984
Brant Publications purchases the magazine
[1]Peter Brant’s newly established company acquires Art in America from Whitney Communications.
- 1979
Publication frequency increases
[1]Art in America increases its output from six issues per year to ten.
- 1974
Elizabeth C. Baker becomes editor
[1]Baker begins a three-decade editorial tenure that becomes one of the longest in the magazine’s history.
Products and positioning
A specialist, historically established art publication positioned between criticism, cultural journalism, and professional intelligence for the contemporary art ecosystem. Its audience includes art-world professionals and informed general readers, with an editorial emphasis on artists, exhibitions, movements, institutions, and the American and international contemporary art market.
Print magazine · 1913
Art in America print magazine
The flagship print publication has historically appeared at varying frequencies, including monthly and ten-issue schedules. After ownership changes and integration with ARTnews, the schedule was reduced first to six issues annually and later to four quarterly issues. It combines criticism, artist profiles, exhibition reviews, movement-based coverage, and reporting on the professional art world.
Digital publishing
Art in America digital editorial
The brand’s online articles cover artists, exhibitions, criticism, institutions, movements, and art-world developments. Following the 2015 ownership transaction involving ARTnews SA, the Art in America website was integrated into the ARTnews website, where the publication’s digital editorial identity continues to be represented.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Centennial cover program
United States · International art world
For its centenary, the magazine planned special covers by Richard Prince, Cindy Sherman, and Urs Fischer, continuing its tradition of commissioning artists for distinctive cover designs.
Brand decisions
2020
Reduce print frequencyStrategyBackground
After ownership changes and closer integration with ARTnews, the publication adjusted its print model.
Action taken
Art in America moved from a higher-frequency schedule to six issues per year and subsequently to four quarterly issues.
Aftermath
The brand placed greater emphasis on a combined print-and-digital model, with online articles published through the ARTnews website.
2018
Join Penske Media CorporationM&ABackground
Art in America and ARTnews were operating under Brant Publications and Art Media Holdings after the 2016 repurchase.
Action taken
Penske Media Corporation acquired both publications.
Aftermath
The title became part of PMC’s wider media portfolio, and its print frequency was later reduced to a quarterly schedule.
2016
Repurchase Art in America and ARTnewsM&ABackground
The two publications had been sold to ARTnews SA in 2015 as part of a broader magazine transaction.
Action taken
Transactions were completed to repurchase both titles under the new Art Media Holdings entity.
Aftermath
The brands continued together before their subsequent acquisition by Penske Media Corporation in 2018.
2015
Sell the publication to ARTnews SAM&ABackground
Brant Publications owned Art in America and several other magazine brands while ARTnews SA operated the competing ARTnews publication.
Action taken
Brant Publications sold Art in America and related brands to ARTnews SA, bringing the two art publications into common ownership and integrating the Art in America website into ARTnews.
Aftermath
The ownership arrangement was reversed the following year when Art in America and ARTnews were repurchased under Art Media Holdings.
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