Guardian Art Critic Steps Down
Adrian Searle, The Guardian's chief art critic for three decades, has announced he will step down at the end of March. His departure marks the end of an era in British art criticism after 30 years of influential reviews and cultural commentary.
- Before becoming a critic, Adrian Searle was a painter and has curated numerous international exhibitions for institutions like the Serpentine Gallery and the Hayward Gallery in London, and the Reina Sofía in Madrid. He has stated that he was always torn between making art and writing, and ultimately, "Writing won." - Searle was a significant voice during the rise of the Young British Artists (YBAs), offering early support to figures such as Steve McQueen, Gillian Wearing, and Chris Ofili. - Some of his most memorable reviews include his 1999 commentary on the Turner Prize shortlist, where Steve McQueen triumphed over Tracey Emin, and his description of Doris Salcedo's "Shibboleth" crack at Tate Modern, where he wrote, "You could stick your arm in, but you might not get it back". - He declared Ragnar Kjartansson's video installation "The Visitors" to be the best artwork of the 21st century so far. - Searle has served on the juries for major art awards, including the Turner Prize in 2004. - His final article for The Guardian, a reflection on his three decades as chief art critic, is scheduled to be published on April 1, after which he will continue to contribute occasionally. - Following his departure from the full-time role, Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones will continue to cover major exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale. He will be joined by other regular critics including Charlotte Jansen, Eddy Frankel, Chloë Ashby, and the newly added Ben Eastham. - In addition to his work at The Guardian, Searle has contributed to publications such as The Independent, Time Out, Artforum, and Frieze.
