In Conversation with Richard Cork and Simon Martin

In his new book, Richard Cork draws on his impeccable skills as a critic and writer to tell the story of his encounters with some of the worlds most influential artists.

Through a series of frank interviews, some scheduled, other serendipitous, he uncovers artists’ inner thoughts, anxieties, and creative ambitions, to reveal the personalities behind the art. The book explores individuals who are able to look back over a lifetime’s work, such as Louise Bourgeois, Roy Lichtenstein and Jasper Johns, to younger artists at an earlier stage in their careers, including Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst. From a drive through the Yorkshire Countryside with David Hockney to a tour of Soho drinking establishments with Francis Bacon, Richard Cork has found that ‘talking to artists can in my experience be surprising, revealing, salutary, testing, provocative, stimulating and at times capable of overturning all my preconceptions about the individuals I encounters.’

Cork has played a significant role in popularising late modern and contemporary art. In the worlds of art critic Louisa Buck, his ‘lucid, even-handed and at times trenchantly critical judgement has been invaluable in helping to create the multiplicity of approach and vigorous debates of today’s artistic climate’.

Join our director Simon Martin for this intimate in conversation event and discover more about Cork’s life and work.

Book tickets

Tickets cost £15 and include a glass of wine or sparkling elderflower. Our exhibitions The Shape of Things: Still Life in Britain, Phoebe Cummings: I hear myself in my throat and Nana Shiomi: Her Own Interpretation will be open from 5pm until 8pm. You can purchase a half-price admission ticket below:

Book half-price admission