The art movement I knew not of!
SLART, Outsider Artist | Project Rattloch Week 9.
It’s 12 days until Memento Vivere.
Artist Adam Crosland and I have been collaborating on a couple of pieces. It started off with a Swindon exhibition called ‘Collaborations’ and as I love his work, plus we’re studio neighbours, I asked him to collab.
Private Idaho (2025) by SLART and Adam Crosland acrylic on board
Ciccone (2025) by Adam Crosland and SLART Acrylic on canvas
Together hung at the Post Modern, Swindon.
So during an impromptu pint with Adam this week, he told me about the time, years ago, he connected with artist Charles Thomson. Charles and Billy Childish started the Stuckist movement and invited Adam to be part of it.
What is Stuckism?
Well, let me tell you…
Stuckism is an international art movement founded in 1999 in London by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish. It began as a protest against what they saw as the dominance of conceptual art and the institutional power of places like the Tate and the Turner Prize.
What do Stuckists believe?
Painting First: Stuckists advocate a return to figurative painting and authentic self-expression, rejecting the idea that art has to be conceptual, ironic, or dependent on installations.
Anti-Conceptual Art: They are famously critical of artists like Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, whom they see as promoting shallow or market-driven art.
Truth & Authenticity: The movement promotes personal, emotional, and spiritual honesty in art, drawing inspiration from outsider art, expressionism, and raw creativity rather than academic polish.
Origins of the Name ‘Stuckism’
The term “Stuckist” came from a remark Tracey Emin once made to Billy Childish, saying he was “stuck” in the past with his traditional painting. Thomson and Childish took the insult and turned it into the name of their movement.
Actions & Influence
The group became known for its manifestos (over 20 written, with bold and often confrontational statements).
They staged demonstrations outside the Tate and the Turner Prize, sometimes dressing as clowns or holding satirical placards.
Despite being ignored by the mainstream for years, they built an international following, with groups of Stuckists emerging in many countries.
Stuckism: In Practice
Stuckism isn’t about a single style. Members’ works vary, but what unites them is a belief in painting as a living act of truth. In that sense, the movement has affinities with outsider art, expressionism, and late bloomers who create outside of formal institutions.
…and, directly from the Stuckism website…
SUMMARY
Stuckism is a radical and controversial art group that was co-founded in 1999 by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish (who left in 2001) along with eleven other artists. The name was derived by Thomson from an insult to Childish from his ex-girlfriend, Brit artist Tracey Emin, who had told him that his art was 'Stuck'. Stuckists are pro-contemporary figurative painting with ideas and anti-conceptual art, mainly because of its lack of concepts. Stuckists have regularly demonstrated dressed as clowns against the Turner Prize. Several Stuckist Manifestos have been issued. One of them Remodernism inaugurates a renewal of spiritual values for art, culture and society to replace the emptiness of current Postmodernism. The web site www.stuckism.com, started by Ella Guru, has disseminated these ideas, and in five years Stuckism has grown to an international art movement with over 187 groups in 45 countries. These groups are independent and self-directed.
So, with all that said, I feel like I tick most of the boxes.
Outsider Artist ✅
Figurative Artist ✅
Expressionist at heart ✅
I don’t have any particular gripe with the Conceptual Art, the YBAs, Tate Modern or the Turner Prize, but after reading a lot of Charles Thomson’s writings, he has a persuasive argument against all of them.
So there you have it, I’m a stuckist, and I went down a stuckist rabbit hole, which was enlightening and a lot of fun. To my delight Ron Throop is on Substack with his publication, Making Friends with Wild Dogs.
I’ve applied to become the South Swindon Stuckist branch, watch this space. Adam Crosland is the Swindon Stuckist. In my opinion, they align with many of my values, so why not join a movement?
What’s the best that can happen?
This is news to me too, but I think I like Stuckisism.