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The curator and commentator built a following for her online persona and satirical memes of the art world.
Hilde Lynn Helphenstein at the Wallace Collection Young Benefactors’ Gala on June 24, 2024 in London (photo Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, a curator and satirical voice in the art world, recognized as Jerry Gogosian, passed away at 40. Authorities in Brazil are conducting a “suspicious death” inquiry after Helphenstein was discovered dead in a São Paulo hotel room on May 31, as initially reported by the local outlet Globo.
A representative from Rosewood São Paulo, a high-end hotel in the Bela Vista area, confirmed to Hyperallergic that Helphenstein was found deceased in one of its rooms on Sunday afternoon.
“Since the incident, the hotel has provided full collaboration with the competent authorities, promptly providing all the information requested to assist in the investigation,” the spokesperson said, mentioning that further comments would not be made to protect the privacy of the guest, their family, and the investigating authorities.
A spokesperson for São Paulo city informed Hyperallergic that police were investigating the death of a 40-year-old woman but did not disclose Helphenstein’s name or cause of death in their statement.
Helphenstein gained a following of nearly 150,000 on Instagram, where she initially posted art world memes under the anonymous persona Jerry Gogosian starting in 2018. Seven years later, she announced her decision to step away from the satirical project, writing, “I have so loved and enjoyed being Jerry, but it is time to let it go.”
Her short-form videos and posts that critiqued the art market’s seriousness helped her develop a broader online presence. In an interview with W magazine, Helphenstein expressed a desire to become “the female Anthony Bourdain of the art world.”
In 2022, she organized an online exhibition of emerging artists’ works at Sotheby’s titled Suggested Followers: How the Algorithm is Always Right.
Helphenstein also hosted a contemporary art podcast, “Art Smack,” on Spotify, later shifting it to Patreon. On platforms like Substack, she openly discussed art-sector politics, industry relationships, and her personal battle with depression. Her website noted she was pursuing an MBA at New York University.
Hyperallergic has reached out to a press contact for Helphenstein for comment.
