John Craxton: A Modern Odyssey

A celebration of the life and work of the artist John Craxton, a rebellious figure in British art history. Published to accompany the exhibition of the same name at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester (October 28th 2023 – April 21st 2024)

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 including Sir David Attenborough, Ian Collins, Simon Martin, Miriam O’Connor Perks, David Mellor, Edmund White, Hilary Spurling, and Tacita Dean-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.