Synopsis
Few living artists can claim to have had the influence of Michael Craig-Martin (born 1941). Celebrated globally for his distinctive art, with numerous retrospectives and honors to his name, he has helped nurture generations of younger artists.
In On Being an Artist, now published in paperback, Craig-Martin reflects with wit and candor on the people, ideas and events that have shaped his professional life. In a series of short, entertaining episodes, he recounts his time studying under Josef Albers at Yale University School of Art alongside Chuck Close, Richard Serra and others; his memories of meeting personal heroes such as Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns and John Cage; and his surreal experience of staking out Christine Keeler at the height of the Profumo scandal.
He recalls, too, his first tentative steps as an artist and emergence as a key figure of early conceptual art, and looks back on his achievements as a teacher at Goldsmiths, where he nurtured two generations of students, among them Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas, earning himself the sobriquet “the godfather of the YBAs.”
Craig-Martin tackles controversial issues such as the fashionability of contemporary art, the enduring status of painting, the relevance of life drawing and practical skills, the qualities of art schools, the role of commercial dealers and the judgment of what is good and bad in art.
More than the life of one of the most creative minds of our age, On Being an Artist provides lesson after valuable lesson to anyone wishing to know what it means and what it takes to be an artist today.
"An erudite, insightful and hugely readable collection." –It's Nice That
"A gloriously illustrated credo-cum-memoir." –artsjournal.com
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Review
a gloriously illustrated credo-cum-memoir by the distinguished Irish-born, American-raised, Yale-educated, British-resident senior artist. (Paul Levy ArtsJournal)
...an erudite, insightful and hugely readable collection of his own writing; 150 short essays ranging from a couple of paragraphs to a few pages covering practical topics On finding a mentor, or On commercial galleries to more theoretical musings On Catholicism and On ideas. (Rob Alderson It's Nice That)
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Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Celebrated artist and influential teacher Michael Craig-Martin's first book is a lively mix of reminiscence, personal manifesto, anecdote and advice for the aspiring artist in a new paperback edition Few living artists can claim to have had the influence of Michael Craig-Martin. Celebrated around the world for his distinctive work, and with major retrospectives, high-profile commissions and numerous honours to his name, he has also helped nurture generations of younger artists, among them Julian Opie, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Liam Gillick and Gary Hume. Often described as the godfather of the YBAs, he taught by combining personal example and individual guidance, offering students encouragement, practical advice and insights gained from his own professional highs and lows. This powerful combination gave them the self-knowledge, confidence and motivation to flourish as some of the most successful figures in contemporary art. Now Craig-Martin shares the same benefit of his experiences with yet another generation. Part memoir and part instructional guide, On Being An Artist is a remarkable mix of reminiscence, personal philosophy, anecdote, self-examination, and advice for the budding artist. In a series of short episodes, he reflects with both wit and candour on the many ideas, events and people that have inspired and shaped him throughout his life, from his childhood in the postwar United States through his time as an art student at Yale in the 1960s and subsequent work as a teacher, to his international success in later years. More than the life of one of the most creative minds of our age, On Being An Artist provides lesson after valuable lesson to anyone wishing to know what it means and what it takes to be an artist today. Few living artists can claim to have had the influence of Craig-Martin. Here he reflects with wit and candor on the people, ideas, and events that have shaped his professional life in a series of short, entertaining episodes. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781908970503
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Art Books Publishing Ltd, 2019
ISBN 10: 1908970502
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