Will a Paywall Help Keep the Lights on at Louise Blouin Media?
Update: In a post on artinfo.com LBM President Ben Hartley objected to a number of elements in this article, noting that he had replied to several of our questions and that The Observer “chose to disregard this and publish anyway.” This claim is simply nonsensical. While Mr. Hartley’s post contains a redacted version of an email we sent while researching the piece, he curiously failed to link to our published story, which in fact carefully reflected his denials and corrections. (That is, of course, why we reached out to him for comment in the first place.) There is one exception: Mr. Hartley claimed that our assertion that LBM paid $1 M. for their offices’ interior and another $1 M. for a fogging glass wall was “incorrect.” Like every detail in our story, this assertion was related by multiple sources. The piece has been updated to reflect Mr. Hartley’s contention.
On Sept. 19, Carlos Slim, the world’s wealthiest individual, dropped by the Metropolitan Club, Fifth Avenue’s answer to a Florentine palazzo, to pick up an award.
The trophy Mr. Slim received that night—a silvery coil—recognized his “creative leadership,” specifically, his philanthropic commitment to the arts. It was awarded by Louise Blouin, owner of Art + Auction, Modern Painters, and Artinfo.com, who is no pauper herself (she is listed as the 189th richest person in the United Kingdom).
With roller-precise curls, and a waxily perfect, expressionless demeanor, Ms. Blouin heaped praise on Mr. Slim, whose Museo Soumaya in Mexico City was rebuilt this year for $70 million. Read More
