Glenn O'Brien is primarily a writer, largely on the subjects of art, music and fashion. He's featured as "The Style Guy" at GQ magazine, and has published a book with that title.
He has worked as an editor at a number of publications, and published the arts and literature magazine Bald Ego from 2003-2005.
In his early years he was a member of Andy Warhol's Factory.
He was a music critic for the Andy Warhol publication Interview in the punk era, with the column "Glenn O'Brien's Beat".
In 1980-1981, he wrote the screenplay (which he also co-produced with Patrick Montgomery) for a film to be called New York Beat, starring Jean Michel Basquiat[1] (The film was only released in 2000, as "Downtown 81"), with post-production managed by O'Brien and Maripol.
In the late 70's, O'Brien coined the now popular title "Editor-at-Large" after briefly being made Editor-In-Chief of High Times Magazine. Not wanting to work at the magazine office full time, the title was an inside joke, apparently a reference to the FBI's Most Wanted posters, as many criminals were tagged Status: at-large.
From 1978 to 1982, Glenn O'Brien hosted a New York city Public-access television cable TV show called "TV Party," which featured such then underground figures as David Byrne, Klaus Nomi, August Darnell, Fab 5 Freddy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cookie Mueller, John Fekner, Amos Poe, and bands like Blondie, The Clash, DNA, and The Fleshtones.[2]
After leaving "TV Party" in addition to continuing his writing career, he attempted a stint as a stand up comedian, and was a contributing editor of Allure, Harper's Bazaar, and Creative Director of advertising at Barneys New York. For 10 years, he wrote a monthly column for ArtForum Magazine. He edited Madonna's Sex.
In January 2008 he was named Editorial Director of Brant Publications, which includes Interview Magazine as well as Art in America and Antiques.[3] In June 2009 it was announced that he had left his position with Brant Publications.
He has lent his collection of early Jean-Michel Basquiat works to various exhibitions, including Deitch Projects,[4] and is a co-author of a major work on the artist.[5]
On February 17, 2009, Glenn was named one of Top 10 Most Stylish Men in America by GQ Magazine.[6]