Billy Childish (born Steven John Hamper, December 1, 1959, in Chatham, Kent) is a renowned English painter, author, poet, photographer, filmmaker, singer, and guitarist. Since the late 1970s, Childish has been a prolific figure in music, writing, and visual art, leaving a profound impact across multiple disciplines.
Childish's music career spans several bands, including the Pop Rivets, Thee Milkshakes, Thee Headcoats, and the Musicians of the British Empire. Known for his contributions to garage rock, punk, and surf genres, he has released more than 100 albums. His artistic endeavors are matched by his literary output, with notable works such as My Fault (1996), Notebooks of a Naked Youth (1997), and Sex Crimes of the Futcher (2004), which explore themes of love, trauma, and personal identity.
In visual arts, Childish’s paintings are characterised by bold colours and dynamic brushstrokes, drawing from German Expressionism and the Stuckist movement, which he co-founded in 1999. Although he left the movement in 2001, his work remains influential and has been showcased in prestigious galleries like London’s ICA and New York’s Lehmann Maupin Gallery.
A consistent advocate for amateurism and free emotional expression, Childish has also made significant contributions as a visiting lecturer at Rochester Independent College. In July 2014, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts Degree from the University of Kent. His raw, unfiltered creativity and refusal to conform have solidified his status as a key figure in the underground art world, inspiring and challenging audiences worldwide. From 1981 until 1985 Childish had a relationship with artist Tracey Emin.
EXHIBITIONS
"Skulls Wolfs Nudes Rope Pullers and a Nervous Breakdown" at Neugerriemschneider, Berlin (November 2020 – January 2021)
"Wolves, Sunsets and the Self" at Lehmann Maupin, Seoul (April – June 2020)
"Remember all the / high and exalted things / remember all the low / and broken things" at Lehmann Maupin, New York (January – February 2020)
"Man in the Mouth of a Cave" at Carl Freedman Gallery, Margate (May – August 2019)
"Man with Jackdaw" at Villa Schöningen, Potsdam (September 2017 – April 2018)
"Billy Childish, Frank Gertsch, Alex Katz" at Galleria Monica De Cardenas, Zuoz (February – March 2018)
