David A. Ross, who served as the chair of the School of Visual Arts (SVA) MFA Art Practice Department for 17 years, has recently resigned from his position after the Department of Justice released his extensive email exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The correspondence, which dates back to the period during and after Epstein’s conviction, includes an email from January 2015 in which Ross expressed pride in calling Epstein a friend and lamented seeing him being “dragged through the mud” once again.
A spokesperson for SVA confirmed that the school is aware of the communications between Ross and Epstein and has accepted Ross’s resignation effective immediately. This decision comes after SVA students and alumni called for the school to sever ties with Ross due to his involvement with Epstein, as revealed in the released emails.
The public records of Ross’s correspondence with Epstein date back to 1999 and include flight logs and sympathetic email exchanges related to Epstein’s 2008 conviction and jail sentence. In one email from July 22, 2009, the day Epstein was released from jail, Ross welcomed him back and expressed relief that the “nightmare” was over. Ross wrote, “glad the nightmare is over, Jeffrey… it was an undeserved punishment foisted upon you by jealous creeps.”
Another email exchange from October 2009 between Epstein and Ross discussed the possibility of funding an exhibition featuring images of minors. Epstein proposed the idea of an exhibition entitled “statutory.. girls and boys ages 14 – 25” where they would look nothing like their true ages. Ross appeared to support the idea and suggested further discussion.
Additionally, the emails revealed that Ross communicated with Epstein while he was still in jail, with Epstein being able to leave jail and spend most days in his office as part of his sentencing. Despite the controversy surrounding his involvement with Epstein, Ross continued to teach at SVA, including senior seminar classes preparing young artists for the real world.
In response to the release of these emails, SVA has taken swift action by accepting Ross’s resignation. The school’s decision reflects a commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for its students and staff. As the art world grapples with issues of ethics and accountability, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and integrity in all professional relationships. In a shocking turn of events, it has been revealed that art world figure and former editor-at-large of FLYP magazine, Ross, was in communication with Jeffrey Epstein in April 2009. In an email filled with irony, Ross expressed his frustrations and financial troubles while boasting about his art-world accomplishments.
Ross, who also served as the chair of SVA’s MFA Art Practice program, revealed in his emails to Epstein his struggles to turn his new identity into a successful business venture. Despite his prestigious roles at various art museums and his co-founding of the auction data platform MutualArt, Ross was facing challenges in recouping a significant debt owed by his former business partner in London.
The email exchange between Ross and Epstein sheds light on the complexities of their relationship and the financial pressures Ross was facing at the time. It is unclear which London enterprise Ross was referring to in his email, but it is evident that he was grappling with financial uncertainty.
The recent resignation of Ross from his position at SVA comes amidst a wave of revelations regarding Epstein’s connections to figures in the arts, culture, and higher education. The news has sparked further scrutiny of Epstein’s influence in these spheres and has raised questions about the extent of his involvement with prominent individuals like Ross.
As the story continues to unfold, it is clear that the impact of Epstein’s actions extends far beyond his own circle of associates. The revelations surrounding Ross’s communication with Epstein serve as a stark reminder of the complexities and contradictions that exist within the art world and the broader cultural landscape.
