A celebration of the life and work of the artist John Craxton, a rebellious figure in British art history
Spanning a rich variety of works from the 1940s to the 2000s, this book celebrates the life and work of the British artist John Craxton (1922–2009). It charts the development of Craxton’s work from the poetic, melancholy images created in wartime Britain to the vibrant paintings and drawings produced in his adopted homeland of Greece. The book revisits the artist’s early life and looks at the influence of British Romantic art and the landscape of England and Wales on his work, while also exploring themes around LGBTQ+ identity, his relationship to significant modern British and international artists, and the historical context of mid-century Britain and Greece.
Featuring short essays and texts from contributors such as Sir David Attenborough, Ian Collins, Simon Martin, and Miriam O’Connor—covering subjects across Craxton’s career, including book illustration, landscape, ballet design, ceramics, and tapestry—this lively account showcases the diverse artistic output of this key figure in British art history.
Exhibition Schedule:
Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
(October 28, 2023–April 21, 2024)
By:
Simon Martin Contributions by:
Ian Collins, David Attenborough, Miriam O’Connor Perks, David Mellor Imprint: Pallant House Gallery Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 260mm,
Width: 210mm,
ISBN:9781869827717 ISBN 10: 1869827716 Pages: 144 Publication Date:09 February 2024 Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format:Hardback Publisher's Status: Active
Simon Martin is a curator and writer and director of Pallant House Gallery, Chichester. Ian Collins is an independent art writer and curator and author of John Craxton: A Life of Gifts (2021).