Theartistdecember2022pdf Apr 2026

: Schjeldahl begins with the stark reality of his terminal diagnosis, noting his oncologist gave him roughly six months to live. He describes death not as a "fast" event, but as a presence that "goes on" and is the "secret to surviving in the universe".

: The piece is deeply confessional, covering his past drug use (systematic derangement of the senses), his "Hellish" struggle with alcoholism, and his complex relationships with his parents and family. TheArtistDecember2022pdf

: Schjeldahl defines his approach to art as being the "world's leading expert in one thing: my experience". He discusses his technique for analyzing difficult works by asking, "What would I like about this if I liked it?". : Schjeldahl begins with the stark reality of