Open to Debate Should We Separate the Art from the Artist?
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Apr 30, 2026 
Randy Cohen, writer and humorist who defends appreciating art apart from creators; Aruna D'Souza, art critic focused on feminism and museums who argues art and maker are entangled. They spar over whether institutions should separate art from artists, how harmful beliefs show up in works, and when museums’ choices reinforce greatness and harm.
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Great Art Often Comes From Flawed People
- Great art is often created by morally flawed people, so rejecting all art because of the artist would erase much cultural value.
- Randy Cohen names Roman Polanski, Picasso, Michael Jackson, and James Brown as examples where the work can be appreciated separately from misdeeds.
Artist's Harms Are Sometimes Baked Into The Work
- The artist's biography and abuses can be embedded in the work, making separation impossible in many cases.
- Aruna D'Souza uses Picasso's depictions of women and Titian's rape scenes to show how misogyny is baked into artworks.
Repudiate Art When Its Content Is Hateful
- When hateful ideas are present in the art itself, the work can and should be repudiated based on content, not just creator biography.
- Randy uses Wagner's antisemitic symbolism in The Ring as an example where art carries objectionable ideas.