Roberta Smith, the longtime co-lead art critic for the New York Times and a towering figure in American art criticism, is the subject of a new documentary titled *House of Criticism*, which premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film focuses on Smith and her husband, New York magazine critic Jerry Saltz. In conjunction with the film's debut, Smith gave an interview reflecting on her career, her critical method, and her views on the art world today.
This article matters because Smith's career spans nearly four decades and has profoundly shaped how the public and the art world understand contemporary art. Known for her rigorous close looking and accessible yet serious style, she won the Rabkin Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019. Her return to the spotlight through the documentary offers a moment to assess the enduring influence of her criticism and the evolving role of the art critic in an era of rapid media change.