ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Jim Shaw's Compendium Explored in Afterall Essay by Claire Barliant

publication · 2026-04-22

Claire Barliant wrote an essay titled 'The Artless Dodger: Jim Shaw and His Endless Compendium,' published on May 26, 2008, as part of Afterall Journal Issue 19. The essay examines Shaw's extensive body of work, which functions as a compendium of American pop culture and subconscious imagery. The full text is behind a paywall for subscribers, with options to purchase individual articles via University of Chicago Press. Related articles include pieces on Inauk S. Gullah, Gonzalo Díaz, and a roundtable on Save M HKA.

Key facts

  • Essay published on 26 May 2008
  • Written by Claire Barliant
  • Part of Afterall Journal Issue 19
  • Full text available only to subscribers
  • Individual articles purchasable via University of Chicago Press
  • Related articles include 'Inside History: The Life and Paintings of Inauk S. Gullah' (12 Mar 2026)
  • Related article: 'A Monument within Another Monument: A Conversation with Gonzalo Díaz' (14 Jan 2026)
  • Related article: 'Shoring up the Republic: Gonzalo Díaz’s Infrastructural Aesthetics' (14 Jan 2026)

Entities

Artists

  • Jim Shaw
  • Inauk S. Gullah
  • Gonzalo Díaz

Institutions

  • Afterall
  • University of Chicago Press

Sources