John Craxton: A Modern Odyssey

This retrospective followed the works of celebrated British Romantic artist, John Craxton R.A. (1922–2009); from his melancholic images of poets within brooding landscapes created in Britain in the early 1940s, to the radiant paintings and drawings inspired by his adopted homeland in the Mediterranean.

The exhibition explored the development of his work. It revealed Craxton’s experiences of confinement and exile, his personal liberation as a gay man, and his celebration of travel and colour, all set within the historical context of mid-century Britain and Greece. Inspiration taken from Greek archaeology, mythology and Byzantine mosaics shines through his art, as do affinities with acquaintance Pablo Picasso and, youthful best friend, Lucian Freud.

Marking the rebellious twists and turns in his life, the exhibition showcased glorious paintings, poetic drawings, book cover illustrations, ceramics, dynamic theatre set designs, and rarely seen pieces from the Craxton Estate.

Shown for the first time alongside this exhibition, contemporary artist Tacita Dean presented Crackers (2023), a two screen film projection which she recently created in Crete as a musing on her friendship with the artist.

Craxton’s versatility was set within the context of some of his contemporaries in a separate display of pieces from the Gallery’s collection. Selected by contemporary artist Jake Grewal, this exhibit included works by Graham Sutherland, Keith Vaughan, John Piper, Paul Nash and John Minton.

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Curated by Ian Collins, author of John Craxton: A Life of Gifts (2021), in partnership with Pallant House Gallery.

Included other works from Pallant House Gallery’s collection and built on the touring exhibitions John Craxton: Drawn to Light, currently at the Mesher Museum in Istanbul, and previously John Craxton: A Greek Soul at the Benaki Museum in Athens (2022-23).

★★★★☆ A bowl of anchovies, some fried potatoes, a bottle of retsina: here is the good life, salt on the lips as well as in the air.

Rachel Cooke, The Observer

 

Pallant House Gallery’s autumn exhibition…falls on Chichester like a ray of hot Cretan sunshine.

Laura Freeman, The Times

 

There’s a playfulness about the whole enterprise, a kind of exultation, that seems entirely true to the legacy of this joyous, wholly individual artist.

Barendina Smedley, The Critic

“Everything about this exhibition – its selection, curation and installation, as well as the allusion to his childhood memories of Chichester and his deep love of Greece – make it outstanding.”

Frances Spalding, The Burlington Magazine