Ashbery wrote an essential critical essay on Freilicher, published in 1986, that includes a brilliant reading of The Painting Table (1954), a still life he owned and used for a cover image of a collection of art essays which is one of the touchstones of the Parrish show. (hamptonsarthub.com)
In 2010 and 2014 he received the National Literature Award for Art Essays in Uruguay. (brooklynrail.org)