John Bezold (1985, Cincinnati) is an American-Dutch editor, researcher, writer, and journalist. Within academia, he researches connoisseurship, curation, art markets, and collecting practices—especially by museums during the first half of the twentieth century. John holds a BSc from the University of Cincinnati, alongside two master's degrees, from the University of Amsterdam.
Articles & Reviews
'Frans Hals Connoisseurs and Exhibitions: From Thoré to Today', in Frans Hals: Iconography, Technique and Reputation, eds. Rudi Ekkart and Norbert Middelkoop (Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2024), 237-259.
'Frans Hals in America: Collectors, Scholars, & Connoisseurs', Oud Holland Reviews (Aug. 2023).
'Frans Hals: The Male Portrait', Early Modern Low Countries 6, no. 2 (Dec. 2022): 278-280.
'Gerard, Lina, & Jan Gratama als schilders en tekenaars', Eigenbouwer, no. 16 (Nov. 2022): 22-33.
'Van de Velde & Sons: Marine Painters', Oud Holland Reviews (Nov. 2022).
'The Frans Hals Family Portrait Exhibition', Oud Holland Reviews (Dec. 2020).
Edited Books
Bezold, John (ed.). Basquiat: The Artist & His New York Scene (Heerlen: Schunck, 2019).
–––. Un-Conscious-City (New York City: Actar, 2019).
–––. Ellen Kooi Above Rotterdam (New York City: Actar, 2016).
–––. Wiel Arets–Bas Princen (Ostfildern: Hatje Cantz, 2015).
Edited Journals
Review Editor & Editorial Board Member, Oud Holland, 2019–2024.
Published 60+ reviews over a five year period as the review editor.
Podcasts
Dutch Art & Design Today, 2022–
Frans Hals Paintings—The Podcast, 2022-
Conference Papers
'The Many Frans Hals Connoisseurs and Exhibitions: From Thoré to Today.' Frans Hals: A Survey of Current Research, Organized by the Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, 8 January 2023.
Popular Articles
Bezold, John. 'The Creation, Curation, & Connoisseurship of AI Art', johnbezold.com, Dec. 2022.
–––., 'Manifest Destiny: The Wild West & Post-Glitch Infused World of Artist Jon Cates', johnbezold.com, Dec. 2022.
–––., ‘Zelfreflectie: Niet alleen in de Verenigde Staten maar ook in China en Frankrijk doet men een poging de selfie als kunst te beschouwen.’ Museumvisie 4. 2018, 20-21.
–––., ‘Amos Rex Museum in Helsinki.’ Museumvisie 4. 2018, 62-63.
–––., ‘Bewaarplaats: In Nederland en België wordt hard gebouwd aan gloednieuwe depots met de allernieuwste technieken op het gebied van klimaatbeheersing.’ Museumvisie 3. 2018, 62-63.
–––. ‘Vreemde Wereld: Door tentoonstellingen te populariseren, vergroten musea hun doelgroep. Rijk of arm, homo of hetero, bekend of onbekend: portretten bereiken nieuw publiek.' Museumvisie 2, 62-63.
–––. ‘Op de Vlucht: Twee tentoonstellingen in Nederland belichtten het leed van vluchtelingen. Ook elders in de wereld blijft hun lot niet onopgemerkt.' Museumvisie 1. 2018, 62-63.
–––. ‘Verjongingskuur: Musea verbinden hun collecties aan modern werk om hun relevantie te laten zien en bezoekers bij hun missie te betrekken'. Museumvisie 3. 2017, 63-64.
–––. ‘The IJhal in Amsterdam's Central Train Station.' Domus no. 1007 (Nov. 2016): 60-71.
–––. 'Oving Caps a House with Glass.' Mark Magazine. Apr./May 2015, 30-31. (Essay on preservation of a former guard's house at Camp Westerbork).
–––. 'Paper Gallery: Ellen Kooi.' Elephant Magazine 20. 2014.
–––. ‘Abandoned Amusements.' Mark Magazine. Dec. 2008/Jan. 2009, 156-163. (Essay on abandoned amusement parks in the USA, Korea, and Japan).
–––. ‘Migrating Formations by CAP.' Frame. Jan./Feb. 2009, 75. (Exhibition review of MoMA’s ‘Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling’).
–––. ‘Neri Oxman Interview: By experimenting with materials in an open-ended manner, Neri Oxman reshapes the look and feel of architecture yet to come.' Mark Magazine. Oct./Nov. 2008, 204-209. (Profile of MIT-based ‘new material’ architecture researcher, Dr. Neri Oxman).
Awards
Frits Duparc Thesis Award 2017, Honorable Mention: Contrasting Connoisseurs: Attributing the Family Portraiture of Frans Hals (MA–Dutch Art 2015).
Fellowship
American Friends of the Mauritshuis Researcher, Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, 2016.