New documentary captures two art critics at a turning point

The Art Newspaper reports that House of Criticism (2026), a documentary by Alison Chernick, premiered last week at the Tribeca Film Festival and profiles influential US art critics Jerry Saltz and Roberta Smith. The film follows the married pair—Saltz of New York magazine and Smith, until recently, of The New York Times—through daily life in their Manhattan apartment and on visits to galleries and openings, emphasizing how their partnership intersects with the increasingly scarce profession of full-time art criticism. It contrasts Smith’s precise, object-focused approach with Saltz’s more emotional, personal style, and includes scenes of them discussing their early careers and writing process. The documentary also traces formative influences, including Smith’s upbringing in Kansas and her time at the Whitney Independent Study Program, where she worked closely with Donald Judd.

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