Anderson Hays Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Cooper, Diane Arbus; Neil Selkirk

Artwork Overview

Anderson Hays Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Cooper, Diane Arbus; Neil Selkirk
Anderson Hays Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Cooper, Diane Arbus; Neil Selkirk
Diane Arbus ; Neil Selkirk
Anderson Hays Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Cooper
1967
Diane Arbus, photographer
1923–1971
Neil Selkirk, printer
born 1947
Anderson Hays Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Cooper, 1967
Where object was made: United States
Material/technique: gelatin silver print
Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 36.9 x 36.6 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 14 1/2 x 14 7/16 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 25 x 20 in
Credit line: Museum purchase
Accession number: 1985.0071
On display: Brosseau Learning Center
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Images

Label texts

Brosseau Center for Learning: In Conversation with the 2025–26 KU Common Book

George W. Bush. Liza Minnelli. Jesus. Anderson Cooper. Those whose parent(s)’ names are blue on Wikipedia.

And myself, Hana Rose North. Resident nepo baby of the Spencer Museum.

Clearly, I cannot complain much about nepotism as it’s worked out in my favor—but I’d like to say that I have put in the hours of art handling training and history lessons (though sometimes perhaps against my will) before arriving to college. Kate does remind me often that I earned my position as the only applicant who met federal work-study requirements. Though she didn’t need to assess my skillset as she’s well-acquainted with my folks and has quite literally known me since the day I was born. My father’s catalogs and my mother’s handwriting are peppered throughout the print room. Now my own daily work sits alongside theirs.

However, my lucky path is not always the norm for more (in)famous nepo babies. And I find myself hypocritical, thinking as far as some being undeserving. Lobbies undermined and political schemes pilloried by unfair legacies and trust funds. Tech giants and self-described superstars stepping into a limelight hoisted by their predecessors. Even their shadows are bright and oversaturated.

I am always one for using connections and any resources to your advantage, but I argue you still need to put in the effort to embolden your passion. I know most nepo babies aren’t that selfish and tend to share the wealth with their already wealthy friends, but the problem lies within their arbitrary boundaries of benevolence.

So, I stick my rating just over the halfway mark, because there are some great nepo babies out there. Thank you Andie MacDowell for Margaret Qualley.

Hana Rose North, daughter of Bill North and Cori Sherman North, gives nepotism three stars.

Exhibitions

Diane Arbus: Family Albums
Anthony Lee, curator
John Pultz, curator
2004
Diane Arbus: Magazine Work, 1960-1971
Thomas Southall, curator
1984–1987
Diane Arbus: Family Albums
Anthony Lee, curator
John Pultz, curator
2004
Diane Arbus: Family Albums
Anthony Lee, curator
John Pultz, curator
2004
Diane Arbus: Family Albums
Anthony Lee, curator
John Pultz, curator
2005
Diane Arbus: Family Albums
Anthony Lee, curator
John Pultz, curator
2003
Diane Arbus: Family Albums
Anthony Lee, curator
John Pultz, curator
2005
Diane Arbus: Family Albums
Anthony Lee, curator
John Pultz, curator
2005
Diane Arbus: Family Albums
Anthony Lee, curator
John Pultz, curator
2006
Time/Frame
Spencer Museum of Art Interns 2007–2008, curator
2008
Diane Arbus: Family Albums
John Pultz, curator
2004–2005
Diane Arbus: Magazine Work, 1960-1971 (Diane Arbus: In Print, 1960-1971)
Thomas Southall, curator
1984
The Obvious and Beyond: Photographs from the Spencer Museum Collection
Robert Hickerson, curator
Luke Jordan, curator
1992
Brosseau Center for Learning: In Conversation with the 2025–26 KU Common Book
Scott Barber, curator
Wyatt Haywood, curator
Suzanne Huffman, curator
Ellen Joo, curator
Luke Jordan, curator
Arial Kim, curator
Doug Bergstrom, curator
Susan Earle, curator
Sofía Galarza Liu, curator
Kevin Liu, curator
Kate Meyer, curator
Cara Nordengren, curator
Hana Rose North, curator
Liz Pfeiffer, curator
Sydney Pursel, curator
Rachel Straughn-Navarro, curator
Eli Troen, curator
Maggie Vaughn, curator