Ben Luke talks to Jeremy Deller about his influences—from writers to film-makers, musicians and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work.
Jeremy Deller's Welcome to the Shitshow (2019)
© Jeremy Deller
Deller, born in London in 1966, has created some of the most extraordinary works of recent decades, acting as a catalyst for exhibitions, films, events and happenings that often involve numerous collaborators. His works reflect on social movements, communities and countercultures, the history of art and design, pop-cultural forms and celebrated public figures.
Jeremy Deller's Father and Son (Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch) 2021, Melbourne
Artwork by Jeremy Deller, photo by Christian Capurro
In this episode, he discusses the early influence of Francis Bacon, how Mike Kelley was an important figure in defining the possibilities of art’s relationship with popular culture, the power of Gitta Sereny’s pivotal biography of Albert Speer, his ongoing engagement with music in various forms, and much more. Plus, he gives insight into his studio life and answers our usual questions—including the ultimate: “What is art for?”
Still from Jeremy Deller's Everybody in the place (2018)
© Jeremy Deller
• Jeremy Deller, Art is Magic (book), Cheerio, £30/$60
• Art is Magic (exhibition), Frac Bretagne, La Criée contemporary art centre and Musée des beaux-arts, Rennes, until 17 September
• Jeremy Deller: Welcome to the Shitshow!, Kunsthalle Charlottenberg, Copenhagen, until 6 August.
Jeremy Deller's Sacrilege (inflatable Stonehenge), 2012, Glasgow
Artwork and photo by Jeremy Deller
This podcast is sponsored by Bloomberg Connects, the arts and culture app.
The free app offers access to a vast range of international cultural organisations through a single download, with new guides being added regularly. They include numerous institutions with which Jeremy Deller has collaborated, like the visionary art producers Artangel, the Hayward Gallery in London and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. He’s also an exhibit in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, in a portrait photograph by David Levene. If you download the app, you will find a guide to the NPG including a welcome by its director Nicholas Cullinan, explaining the extensive redevelopment that has transformed the gallery, a section called Meet the Portraits with a 60-minute tour of its collection, and Behind the Scenes, in which sitters and artists describe the experience of creating works.