The art world's preoccupation with authenticity seems to ebb and flow with the tides of the economy. In an uptick, artists can be cynical about whether their work connects; come the recession, soul-searching slides back into fashion. In 2007, when West Coast–based artist Ben Shaffer had his first solo show at Silverman Gallery, the art business was booming, and he filled the gallery with a collection of assemblage sculptures that included a life-size rainbow-striped woman riding a unicycle. The work could be read as commentary on a flush scene's... More >>>