John Craxton: A Modern Odyssey

This book celebrates the life and work of British artist John Craxton, exploring his development from poetic wartime images to vibrant paintings in Greece. It examines his influence by British Romantic art, England's landscape, LGBTQ+ identity, and mid-century Britain and Greece. Contributors include Sir David Attenborough and Tacita Dean, showcasing his diverse artistic output across various mediums. The exhibition is scheduled at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester from October 28, 2023, to April 21, 2024.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Pallant House Gallery Trust

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 Craxtons work from the poetic, melancholic images created in wartime Britain to the vibrant paintings and drawings produced in his adopted homeland of Greece. The book revisits the artists 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 including Sir David Attenborough, Ian Collins, Simon Martin, Miriam O Connor Perks, David Mellor, Edmund White, Hilary Spurling, and Tacita Dean—covering subjects across Craxtons 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)

Weight: 880g
Dimension: 217 x 268 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781869827717