The Art World's Most Feared Critic: A Conversation with Regina Pembly

The Art World's Most Feared Critic: A Conversation with Regina Pembly

• Winnie Huang: Regina, thanks for taking the time to chat with us today. Your reviews are infamous for their brutal honesty. What drives your passion for critiquing art?

Regina Pembly: Passion? Ha! It's my job to dissect the mediocre, to expose the emperor's new clothes. I'm driven by a desire for excellence, and a disdain for those who settle for less.

• Winnie Huang: That's clear from your reviews. You've written about some of the most... let's say, "unconventional" artists out there. What draws you to their work?

Regina Pembly: I'm not drawn to their work; I'm drawn to the carnage. I want to see artists pushed to their limits, forced to confront their own inadequacies. And sometimes, just sometimes, that leads to something interesting.

• Winnie Huang: You've been doing this for a while now. Have you ever seen a painting that you actually liked? One that surprised you?

Regina Pembly: (pauses, looking almost uncomfortable) Ah, yes. Well, there was one piece... a Van Gogh exhibit I reviewed years ago. The way he used color and texture... it was almost... (shudders) competent. But don't get me wrong; I'm not here to coddle artists' egos. Even that piece had its flaws.

• Winnie Huang: That's high praise coming from you. Do you think you'll ever retire from critiquing?

Regina Pembly: Retire? Why would I? The art world will never run out of amateur hour, and I'll never run out of targets. This is my life's work.

• Winnie Huang: Well, we look forward to your next review. Thanks again, Regina.

Regina Pembly: (dismissively) Yes, yes. Just don't expect me to go easy on anyone.