If you're interested in learning more about Tom Wolfe and his work, here are some recommended books and essays:

He famously coined the phrase "The Painted Word" to describe the moment when art critics (specifically Clement Greenberg, Harold Rosenberg, and Leo Steinberg) became more important than the artists.

In his 1975 book , delivers a sharp, satirical indictment of the modern art world, arguing that visual art has become entirely subservient to written theory. Rather than existing as a visual experience to be enjoyed by the eyes, Wolfe contends that modern painting has devolved into a mere illustration of the "isms" and "text" dictated by a handful of powerful critics. The Central Argument: Theory Over Vision

In the years since its publication, "The Painted Word" has become a touchstone for debates about art, culture, and criticism. Wolfe's critique of the art world's elitism, exclusivity, and commercialization has influenced a generation of artists, critics, and curators, who have sought to challenge the dominant ideologies and power structures of the art world.

Used recognizable commercial images, which critics like Steinberg re-theorized as "flat on flat" to maintain intellectual status.