NOTABLE FIGURES
The Notable Figures series within the Correspondence Collection reflects Peter Halley’s ongoing exchange with the curators, critics, writers, and cultural figures who championed and contextualized his work over the decades. Spanning the 1980s to today, these letters and notes trace the networks of support, collaboration, and intellectual engagement that shaped his public career. This section showcases Halley’s relationships with influential voices in the art world—those who organized exhibitions, wrote about his work, and participated in the broader conversation around contemporary art.
Bruno Bischofberger (b. )
Peter Halley and Bruno Bischofberger shared a dynamic relationship rooted in mutual appreciation for bold, conceptual art. Bischofberger, a renowned Swiss gallerist known for championing avant-garde artists, was among the earliest to recognize Halley’s significance in the contemporary art scene. He played a pivotal role in supporting Halley’s career, notably as the first to publish Peter Halley: Collected Essays 1981–87, bringing Halley’s theoretical writings to a broader European audience. Their collaboration bridged visual and intellectual expression, reinforcing Halley’s position not only as a painter but also as a critical voice in postmodern discourse.
Richard Milazzo and Tricia Collins
In 1983, Halley meets curators and critics Tricia Collins and Richard Milazzo, known as Collins & Milazzo. This relationship led to countless group exhibitions, curated by the pair that included Halley, playing a significant role in introducing and contextualizing his work within the global art scene of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Demetrio Paparoni (b. )
This correspondence concerns the Italian translation of Peter Halley’s collected essays, published by Tema Celeste and organized by curator and editor Demetrio Paparoni. The project marked the first comprehensive effort to bring Halley’s theoretical writing to an Italian-speaking audience. The book would later be translated into Spanish and French, expanding its reach across Europe and Latin America.
Robert Nickas (b. 1957)
During the run of Science Fiction, an exhibition curated by Halley, Halley meets curator Robert Nickas. Not only would Nickas later include Halley in fourteen group exhibitions between 1985 and 1996, the pair would go on to co-found INDEX magazine. Halley as the publisher and Nickas as editor.
In subsequent years, through Nickas Halley will meet artists John M Armleder, Steve DiBenedetto, Sylvie Fleury, Olivier Mosset, Cady Noland, Steven Parrino and Dan Walsh, among others.
Jeffrey Deitch (b. July 9, 1952)
Jeffrey Deitch is a curator, writer, and gallerist known for his influential role in shaping contemporary art discourse and supporting artists at pivotal moments in their careers.
