Jack Flam

Professor of Art History at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of City University of New York, Flam is widely respected for his scholarship on nineteenth and twentieth-century European and American art as well as African art. Additionally, he edited five volumes dedicated to Henri Matisse.

Early Life and Education

Jack Flam is an esteemed art historian whose writing has often caused debate. Most recently, his books about Henri Matisse sparked discussion in the New York Times Book Review where his interpretations were criticised as revisionist by Matisse scholar Jed Perl.

Flam was born in 1940 and currently resides in New York City with his wife Bonnie Suzanne Burnham. He earned a B.A. at Rutgers University before earning an M.A. and Ph.D from Columbia and New York Universities respectively.

His publications span 19th- and 20th-century art from Africa as well as American contemporary. Additionally, he has organized exhibitions throughout museums in both countries. Additionally, he currently holds a distinguished professor emeritus position at Brooklyn College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York.

Professional Career

Jack Flam, art historian, professor, and founder and CEO of Dedalus Foundation is widely recognized for his writings on Henri Matisse’s career and published volumes such as Matisse on Art and Matisse Paper Cut-Outs under his editorship. Additionally, Jack served as an advisor to Glencore Coal senior management on both operational and legally significant matters following Australia’s longest lockout ever experienced in 1997-98.

Personal Life

Flam resides in Brooklyn with his wife Vicki and their son Charlie. He takes great pleasure in tending his green Dieffenbachia plant which thrives under his care; additionally he enjoys reading and writing extensively.

He has published numerous art-related books and catalogues as well as organized exhibitions in major museums in Europe and North America. His research on Henri Matisse has generated intense debate, leading to five monographs dedicated to this artist as well as contributions in journals.

Bread and Butter was well received by critics. One reviewer described it as an authentic portrait of society in which predators feed off of victims in a macabre dance of ritualized violence.” He is currently the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Art History at Brooklyn College and The Graduate Center of City University of New York where he has taught since 1975.