Jeremy Deller's 'Art is Magic' Book Blends Humor and DIY Culture in a Career Retrospective

Jeremy Deller has released a new book titled 'Art is Magic', described as a children's book for adults, offering a retrospective of his career with a focus on humor and humility. The English artist reflects on his journey from staging an early exhibition in his family home in 1993 to representing the UK at the Venice Biennale two decades later. Deller emphasizes his interest in DIY culture and informal creative networks, highlighting mass-produced merchandising like T-shirts, posters, and zines alongside institutional exhibitions. He argues that art should not be expensive or exclusive, citing popular culture's role in driving historical change, with music—from David Bowie to Joy Division—as a key influence. An anecdote features Andy Warhol, recounting a meeting at the London Ritz hotel a year before Warhol's death, showcasing Deller's early outsider status. In a conversation with artist Alan Kane, Deller notes his non-attendance at art school, distancing himself from the Young British Artists movement. The book, published by Cheerio and priced at £30 in hardcover, aims to strip art of weighty preconceptions, framing it through its 'alchemical power' to transform reality. Deller's self-deprecating perspective and focus on accessibility challenge artworld pretensions, blending personal history with broader cultural commentary.