Billy Childish
Billy Childish was born in Chatham, Kent, U.K. 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 of 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 abuse he suffered as a child. Over 35 years, Childish has gained a cult status worldwide; writing and publishing over 40 volumes of confessional poetry, 5 novels, recorded over 100 LPs, and painted hundreds of paintings.
Courtesy of Lehmann Maupin Gallery.
Billy Childish is featured in Edition: Guest Editor, Price Latimer Agah
