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John Stezaker on the Ambiguity of Images and the Art of Collage

publication · 2026-05-04

In a 2013 interview for Frieze Masters, featured in David Campany's 2018 publication "Così presente, così invisibile," John Stezaker elaborates on his collage technique, which utilizes found photographs. He began his studies at the Slade School of Fine Art in 1967, having already started to collect images beforehand and ultimately forsaking painting, as he felt enlarging images diluted their impact. Drawing inspiration from Surrealism, Situationism, and Pop art, his objective is to free images from ambiguity. Stezaker refers to détournement as a political rationale that evolved into a hindrance. He utilizes film stills and postcards, labeling them "zombie" images, and his collages feature minimal cuts to investigate "minimal mutilation." He also acknowledges Duchamp's readymade tradition and has produced films such as "Horse," "Blind," and "Crowd" (2013) to explore viewing experiences.

Key facts

  • John Stezaker has been making collages for over forty years.
  • He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London from 1967.
  • He abandoned painting after finding that enlargement diminished the power of found images.
  • His work is influenced by Surrealism, Situationism, and Pop art.
  • He uses found photographs such as film stills and postcards.
  • He references Maurice Blanchot's concept of an image existing 'between here and nowhere.'
  • His collages often involve minimal cuts, creating a balance between seduction and deformity.
  • He has made films including 'Horse', 'Blind', and 'Crowd' (2013).
  • The interview was published in Frieze Masters in 2013.
  • The interview is included in David Campany's book 'Così presente, così invisibile' (Contrasto Books, 2018).

Entities

Artists

  • John Stezaker
  • David Campany
  • Richard Hamilton
  • Marcel Duchamp
  • Giorgio de Chirico
  • René Clair
  • Eadweard Muybridge
  • Stuart Morgan
  • Maurice Blanchot

Institutions

  • Slade School of Fine Art
  • Frieze Masters
  • Contrasto Books
  • The Approach

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy

Sources