Billy Childish

Biography

Billy Childish was born in Chatham, Kent in 1959. After leaving secondary school at age 16 he worked at the Naval Dockyard in Chatham as an apprentice stonemason. Initially denied an interview to the local art school, he produced hundreds of drawings that gained him entry to St. Martin's School of Art. Childish's defiance to authority led to his eventual expulsion from art school in 1981. Childish then embarked on an artistic, odyssey exploring a broad range of worldly themes including war, history, social protest, as well his own experiences of alcoholism, and the sexual abuse he suffered as a child. Over 35 years Childish has gained a cult status world-wide; writing and publishing over 40 volumes of confessional poetry, 5 novels, recorded over 100 LPs, and painted many hundreds of paintings.

Billy Childish has had solo and group exhibitions internationally including New York, London, and Berlin. He was included in British Art Show 5, which toured throughout four cities – Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, and Birmingham. In 2010, he was the subject of major concurrent retrospectives at the ICA in London and White Columns in New York.
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Gallery Exhibitions

• Hong Kong International Art Fair, Booth 1E04 - May 17 - 20, 2012
• ADAA: The Art Show 2012, Booth D7 - March 7 - 11, 2012
• VIP Art Fair 2012 - February 3 - 8, 2012
• Billy Childish, I Am the Billy Childish Curated by Matthew Higgs - November 4, 2011 - January 21, 2012
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2011, Booth K15 - December 1 - 4, 2011
• Frieze Art Fair 2011, Booth F16 - October 13 - 16, 2011
• On Shuffle, Featuring Billy Childish, Kim Gordon, Kalup Linzy, Ryan McNamara, Dave Muller, Tony Oursler, Dario Robleto and Stephen Vitiello - July 6 - August 19, 2011

Museum Exhibitions

• Hong Kong International Art Fair, Booth 1E04 - May 17 - 20, 2012
• ADAA: The Art Show 2012, Booth D7 - March 7 - 11, 2012
• VIP Art Fair 2012 - February 3 - 8, 2012
• Billy Childish, I Am the Billy Childish Curated by Matthew Higgs - November 4, 2011 - January 21, 2012
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2011, Booth K15 - December 1 - 4, 2011
• Frieze Art Fair 2011, Booth F16 - October 13 - 16, 2011
• On Shuffle, Featuring Billy Childish, Kim Gordon, Kalup Linzy, Ryan McNamara, Dave Muller, Tony Oursler, Dario Robleto and Stephen Vitiello - July 6 - August 19, 2011

Press

• Whitewall Download PDF ()
• Time Out New York Download PDF ()
• Time Out New York Download PDF ()
• The New Yorker Download PDF ()
• The New York Observer Download PDF ()
• Scotsman Download PDF ()
• New Statesman Download PDF ()
• Huffington Post
• Artinfo Download PDF ()
• Artinfo Download PDF ()
• Artforum Download PDF ()
• Art in America Download PDF ()

Publications

• Billy Childish, I Fuckt Frida Kahlo
• Billy Childish, The Stonemason
• Billy Childish, Toni Kurz Descending
• Billy Childish, Special Edition 7" Vinyl Record Set

Selected Works

BILLY CHILDISH Erupting Volcano, Chile, 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 72.05 x 95.87 inches 183 x 243.5 cm LM15256


BILLY CHILDISH Sibelius Amongst Saplings, 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 72.05 x 96.06 inches 183 x 244 cm LM15254


BILLY CHILDISH Kurz Descending (Study), 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 59.84 x 36.02 inches 152 x 91.5 cm LM15257


BILLY CHILDISH (Fallada) Man with Blue Bottle, 2010 oil and charcoal on linen 59.84 x 39.76 inches 152 x 101 cm LM14892


BILLY CHILDISH With Scout Under Rowan Tree, 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 59.84 x 48.03 inches 152 x 122 cm LM14893


BILLY CHILDISH Sibalius (Man with Stick), 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 96.06 x 60.24 inches 244 x 153 cm LM14916


BILLY CHILDISH (Elgar) Man Sat on Chairs, 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 48.03 x 59.84 inches 122 x 152 cm LM14918

Available Works

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BILLY CHILDISH Toni Kurz Ascending (Study), 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 24.02 x 17.72 inches 61 x 45 cm LM15319 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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BILLY CHILDISH Rachmaninov (Dog and Man), 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 96.06 x 60.24 inches 244 x 153 cm LM14917 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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BILLY CHILDISH Erupting Volcano, Chile (Study), 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 24.02 x 17.72 inches 61 x 45 cm LM15323 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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BILLY CHILDISH Sibalius (Man with Stick), 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 96.06 x 60.24 inches 244 x 153 cm LM14916 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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BILLY CHILDISH (Sibelius) Man with Cigar (Study), 2011 oil and charcoal on linen 24.02 x 17.72 inches 61 x 45 cm LM15791 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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BILLY CHILDISH Lt. Sydney A. Cloman, First Infantry, on His Horse on the Wounded Knee Battleground, 2010 oil and charcoal on linen 60.24 x 96.06 inches 153 x 244 cm LM14919 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com