First published 2016
William Packer presents the first major study of Jack Milroy, a British artist who has worked for more than fifty years. Packer examines how Milroy transforms everyday materials into complex artworks. The artist takes illustrated books, posters, maps, and packaging and reshapes them into large yet detailed creations. Milroy's pieces blend humor with serious subjects, referencing events from 9/11 to biblical stories like The Garden of Eden. His work draws from Surrealism and fantasy while incorporating modern technology, Pop art, and natural themes. Packer, who served as art critic for the Financial Times, has followed Milroy's career for years. He provides insight into the artist's methods and vision through a specially written essay. The book reveals how one artist has continuously reinvented found materials across five decades of practice.
Genres: biography, art, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: reinvention, transformation
Setting: Britain
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
192 pages · Hardcover · Black Dog Press