Billy Childish

Born 1959 / UK
Live and works in Kent / UK
Billy Childish -

Childish attended Medway College of Design, Kent in 1977 and Saint Martin’s School of Art, London in 1978.

Solo exhibitions of his work have been organized at Lehmann Maupin in New York (2022), London (2020), New York (2020) and Seoul (2020); Neugerriemschneider, Berlin, Germany (2018); Villa Schöningen, Berlin, Germany (2017); Goss-Michael Foundation, Dallas, TX (2017); Rochester Art Gallery, Kent, United Kingdom (2016); Opelvillen Rüsselsheim, Frankfurt, Germany (2016); White Columns, New York (2010); and the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (2010). Select group exhibitions featuring his work include BILLY CHILDISH, HARRY ADAMS and EDGEWORTH JOHNSTONE: Our Friend Larionov, Pushkin House, London (2014); Paintings Sweet Paintings, Neuer Aachener Kunstverein, Aache, Germany (2014); and British Art Show 5, City Art Centre, Edinburgh (2000).

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Selected Works
crescent moon above tahoma - Billy Childish

crescent moon above tahoma (2026)

Oil and charcoal on linen
153 x 153 cm (60 x 60 in)

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trees, clearing beyond version x - Billy Childish

trees, clearing beyond version x (2026)

Oil and charcoal on linen
92 x 61 cm (36 x 24 in)

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walking stones - Billy Childish

walking stones (2025)

Oil and charcoal on linen
153 x 183 cm (60 x 72 in)

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2 trees and sunrise - Billy Childish

2 trees and sunrise (2025)

Oil and charcoal on linen
153 x 153 cm (60 x 60 in)

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two clouds and mountain - Billy Childish

two clouds and mountain (2025)

Oil and charcoal on linen
183 x 274 cm (72 x 108 in)

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2 Crows - Billy Childish

2 Crows (2024)

Oil and charcoal on linen
183 x 152 cm (72 x 60 in)

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Moon and Red Tree - Billy Childish

Moon and Red Tree (2024)

Oil and charcoal on linen
152 x 183 cm (60 x 72 in)

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Tahoma - Billy Childish

Tahoma (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
92 x 92 cm (36 x 36 in)

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treading water, yuba - Billy Childish

treading water, yuba (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
213 x 183 cm (84 x 72 in)

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and so it is - Billy Childish

and so it is (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
213 x 183 cm (84 x 72 in)

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salish canoe and rock - Billy Childish

salish canoe and rock (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
183 x 213 cm (72 x 84 in)

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venus jupiter - Billy Childish

venus jupiter (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
183 x 305 cm (72 x 120 in)

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trees at sunset - Billy Childish

trees at sunset (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
244 x 183 cm (96 x 72 in)

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salish fishing boat - Billy Childish

salish fishing boat (2022)

Oil and charcoal on linen
183 x 305 cm (72 x 120 in)

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swimmer and waterfall - Billy Childish

swimmer and waterfall (2018)

Oil and charcoal on linen
244 x 275 cm (96 x 108 in)

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Moon and Red Tree - Billy Childish

Moon and Red Tree (2024)

Oil and charcoal on linen
152 x 183 cm (60 x 72 in)

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Tahoma - Billy Childish

Tahoma (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
92 x 92 cm (36 x 36 in)

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treading water, yuba - Billy Childish

treading water, yuba (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
213 x 183 cm (84 x 72 in)

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and so it is - Billy Childish

and so it is (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
213 x 183 cm (84 x 72 in)

Enquire
salish canoe and rock - Billy Childish

salish canoe and rock (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
183 x 213 cm (72 x 84 in)

Enquire
venus jupiter - Billy Childish

venus jupiter (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
183 x 305 cm (72 x 120 in)

Enquire
trees at sunset - Billy Childish

trees at sunset (2023)

Oil and charcoal on linen
244 x 183 cm (96 x 72 in)

Enquire
salish fishing boat - Billy Childish

salish fishing boat (2022)

Oil and charcoal on linen
183 x 305 cm (72 x 120 in)

Enquire
swimmer and waterfall - Billy Childish

swimmer and waterfall (2018)

Oil and charcoal on linen
244 x 275 cm (96 x 108 in)

Enquire
See More

Exhibitions

  • Billy Childish -

    This Is The Universe... Big Isn't It?

    26 April - 14 June 2026

    Carl Freedman Gallery is proud to present This Is The Universe... Big Isn't It?, a solo exhibition by British artist Billy Childish

  • Counter Editions -

    25 Years

    28th September 2025 – 4th January 2026

    Carl Freedman Gallery is proud to present '25 Years', an exhibition celebrating 25 years of innovation and excellence in printmaking at Counter Editions.

  • Billy Childish -

    looking at paintings

    2nd July – 3rd September 2023

    Carl Freedman Gallery is proud to present a major solo exhibition by artist Billy Childish.

  • Billy Childish -

    man in the mouth of a cave

    25th May – 24th August 2019

    Carl Freedman Gallery is proud to present ‘man in the mouth of a cave', a solo exhibition by British artist Billy Childish.

Selected Press

Laura Freeman

Billy Childish: ‘Artists can only rebel if the Tate allows them to’

The Times / April 2026

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Byunghee Lee

Billy Childish “Wolves, Sunset, and the Self” Lehmann Maupin / Seoul

Flash Art / June 2022

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Mark Westall

BILLY CHILDISH MAN IN THE MOUTH OF A CAVE

FAD Magazine / May 2019

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Rob Sharp

Billy Childish at Carl Freedman Gallery, London

Modern Painters / December 2013

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Solo Exhibitions
2026

This Is The Universe... Big Isn't It? / Carl Freedman Gallery / Margate / UK

keep mojave weird / Lehmann Maupin / New York / US

2025

the becoming unbecoming / Yi Space / Hangzhou / China

like a god i love all things / Lehmann Maupin / London / UK

2024

now protected, I step forth / Lehmann Maupin / Seoul / South Korea

paintings from fossilised cretaceous seams / neugerriemschneider / Berlin / Germany

A Rock Poet between the Spiritual and Natural World / He Art Museum / Guangdong / China

2023

Billy Childish: looking at paintings / Carl Freedman Gallery / Margate / UK

2022

Billy Childish: where the black water slid / Lehmann Maupin / London / UK

Billy Childish: Spirit Guides and Other Guardians Joining Heaven and Earth / Lehmann Maupin / New York / US

2020

Billy Childish: In Residence / Lehmann Maupin / London / UK

Billy Childish: The Timeless Present / Neugerriemschneider / Berlin / DE

wolves, sunsets and the self / Lehmann Maupin / Seoul / Korea

remember all the - high and exalted things - remember all the low - and broken things / Lehmann Maupin / New York /NY

2019

man in the mouth of a cave / Carl Freedman Gallery / Margate / UK

2018

heaven's journey / Neugerriemschneider / Berlin / DE

2017

Billy Childish: Man With Jackdaw / Villa Schöningen / Berlin / DE

mountain view house / Goss-Michael Foundation / Dallas / USA

2016

unknowable but certain / Stiftung Opelvillen / Rüsselsheim / DE

the house at grass valley / Carl Freedman Gallery / London / UK

Billy Childish in Print (A Survey) / Rochester Art Gallery / Kent / UK

2015

billy childish at cactus garden / Galleria Paolo Curti / Annamaria Gambuzzi & Co. / Milan / IT

at segantinis hut / Neugerriemschneider / Berlin / DE

2014

Paintings Sweet Paintings: Billy Childish / Matthias Dornfeld / Neuer / DE / Aachener Kunstverein Aachen / DE

Saint Moritz Art Masters: Billy Childish / French Church / St. Moritz / FR

Edge of the Forest / Lehmann Maupin / HK

2013

darkness was here yesterday / Carl Freedman Gallery / London / UK

all apparent achievements and misdemeanours are non defining / Neugerriemschneider / Berlin / DE

paintings that change the universe like digging in the gutter with a broken lolly stick / Lehmann Maupin / New York / US

animal totems lying poets and other mundane renditions in paint / International Art Objects / Los Angeles / CA

2012

Gallery Hyundai / Seoul / KR

L-13 Light Industrial Workshop / London / UK

Dockyard Museum / Chatham / Kent / UK

Neugerriemschneider / Berlin / DE

Frozen Estuary and Other Paintings of the Divine / Hoxton Arches / London / UK

2011

I am the Billy Childish / Lehmann Maupin / New York / US

2010

Billy Childish: Unknowable but Certain / ICA / London / UK

White Columns / New York / US

L-13 Gallery / London / UK

Neugerriemschneider Gallery / Berlin / DE

2004

Simon Finch Gallery / London / UK

Handing the Loaded Revolver to the Enemy: Homage to Vincent Van Gogh / Aquarium Gallery / London / UK

2003

L-13 Gallery / London / UK

1999

Metropole Arts Centre / The Leas / Folkstone / Kent / UK

1995

Cubitt Gallery / London / UK

1994

Cubitt Gallery / London / UK

1990

Westwerk / Hamburg / UK

1988

5 Dryden Street / London / UK

1986

De Media / Belgium / UK

Group Exhibitions
2023

UCA – A Retrospective: Creativity Past, Present & Future / Rochester Art Gallery & Zandra Rhodes Gallery / Rochester / UK

Cure3 / Artwise / London / UK

2018

Billy Childish, Frank Gertsch, Alex Katz / Galleria Monica De Cardenas / Zuoz / CH

2016

Our Friend Larionov / All-Russian Decorative Art Museum / Moscow / RU

2015

Blue Pink Black / Carl Freedman Gallery / London / UK

The Islanders / Galerie Mikael Andersen / Copenhagen / DK

Das Unendliche im Endlichen. Romantik und Gegenwart / Kunstsammlung Jena / Jena / DE

Future Seasons Past / Lehmann Maupin / New York / USA

Horizon / Lehmann Maupin / Hong Kong / CHN

2014

Our Friend Larionov / Pushkin House / London / UK

2011

I Followed You into the Water / Lehmann Maupin / New York / US

On Shuffle / Lehmann Maupin / New York / US

2010

Infiltrations / L-13 Gallery / London / UK

2009

I Am the Good Artist / L-13 Gallery / London / UK

With or Without God / L-13 Gallery / London / UK

2000

 / British Art Show 5′ / City Art Centre / Edinburgh / UK

 / Collective Gallery / Edinburgh / UK

 / Dean Gallery / Edinburgh / UK

 / Fruitmarket Gallery / Edinburgh / UK

 / Inverleith House – Royal Botanic Garden / Edinburgh / UK

 / Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art / Edinburgh / UK

 / Stills / Edinburg / UK / Talbot Rice Gallery / Edinburgh / UK

 / John Hansard Gallery / Southhampton / UK

 / Millais Gallery – Southhampton Institute / Southhampton / UK

 / Southhampton City Art Gallery / Southhampton / UK

 / Centre for Visual Art / Cardiff / UK

 / Chapter Arts Centre / Cardiff / UK

 / Ffotogallery / Cardiff / UK

 / National Museum & Gallery / Cardiff / UK

 / Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery / Birmingham / UK

 / Ikon Gallery / Birmingham / UK

1992

Galerie Spaarkrediet / Belgium / BE

1991

The Kelly Family / Esther Schipper Gallery / Cologne / DE

Publications

2019

Österlund, Rikard. Man in the mouth of a cave: The Billy Childish studio 2012-2018. London: L- 13.

2018

Cahill, James. Ways of Being: Advice for Artists by Artists. London: Laurence King.

Harford Thompson, Tom. Artists’ Homes: Live/Work Spaces for Modern Makers. London: Thames & Hudson.

2017

Billy Childish: Unbegreiflich aber Gewiss: A Catalogue of Paintings, August 2014 – January 2017. London: BC Studio Editions.

Copeland, Mathieu, and Balthazar Lovay, eds. The Anti-Museum: An Anthology. Fribourg, Fri Art; London: Koenig.

Neumann, Matthias, and Jo Steffens, eds. Unpacking My Library: Artists and Their Books. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

Platt, Len. Writing London and the Thames Estuary: 1576-2016. Leiden: Brill.

2015

The Islanders: Tom Anholt, Billy Childish, Ryan Mosley, Rose Wylie. Copenhagen: Galerie Mikael Andersen.

Morris, Stephen H. Do it Yourself: A History of Music in Medway. Teynham: Cultured Llama Publishing.

Rudrum, David, and Nicholas Stavris, eds. Supplanting the Postmodern: An Anthology of Writings on the Arts and Culture of the Early 21st Century. New York: Bloomsbury Academic.

2014

Atkinson, Craig, ed. Billy Childish. Southport: Café Royal Books

Hollein, Max, and Matthias Ulrich, eds. Unendlicher Spaß. Frankfurt: Schirn Kunsthalle; Nuremberg: Verlag für Moderne Kunst.

Walking in God’s Buti: Selected Paintings 2013-2014. London: Carl Freedman Gallery.

2013

Billy Childish: painting that change the universe like digging in the gutter with a broken lolly stick / Koenig Books / Ltd / London / UK

2012

Frozen Estuary and Other Paintings of the Divine Ordinary / L-13 Light Industrial Workshop / London / UK

2011

The Stonemason / L-13 Light Industrial Workshop / London / UK

Paraffin Van (Also published under the title I Fuckt Frida Kahlo as a Faber and Faber lookalike.)Forgotten Letters: An Anthology of Dyslexic Writing / R.A.S.P. / London / UK

Dwang 3 / Tangerine Press / Tooting / UK

2010

Dwang 2 / Tangerine Press / Tooting / UK

Colour Blinds Music Deafens Taste Burns My Throat and the Poets Massacre / Tangerine Press / Tooting / UK

2009

Selected Poems: Penguin Classic “Art” Edition / L-13 Light Industrial Workshop / UK

The Uncorrected Billy Chyldish / Tangerine Press / Tooting / UK

Unknowable but Certain / Blackheath Books / London / UK

Dwang 1 / Tangerine Press / Tooting / UK

The Hedonists Guide to Life / Filmer Ltd / London / UK

Penny-Ante: Three / Los Angeles / US

Punk Fiction: An Anthology of Short Stories Inspired by Punk / Portico / London Nineteen Raptures / NB Publishing / London / UK

2008

Gods Fantastic Colours – Hand stamped covers. Note: some copies appear with different titles and different author and publisher: Art War / Man Taken from Guts and Insolunce in the Face of Art being examples

Where the Tiger Prowls Stripped and Unseen / The Aquarium / London / UK

Old 4 Legs / The Aquarium / London / UK

This is My Shit and it Smells Good to Me / The Aquarium / London / UK

2007

the idiocy of idears / L-13 Light Industrial Workshop / London / UK

2006

The Edgier Waters / Snowbooks Ltd / London / UK

2005

A River Anthology / Urban Fox Press / Chatham / UK

Magazine No. 1 / X-Ray Book Company / Ventura / US

9 Stories of the River Medway Recounted in the Language of Idiots for People of Little Discernment / Urban Fox Press / Chatham / UK

The River be My Blud: Medway Poems 1980-2005 / Urban Fox Press / Chatham / UK

The Man with Gallows Eyes – Selected Poetry 1980-2005 / The Aquarium / London / UK

2004

The 1st Green Horse God has Ever Made / Urban Fox Press / Chatham / UK

Knite of the Sad Face / Chap Book / The Aquarium / London / UK

Sex Crimes of the Futcher / The Aquarium / London / UK

Calling Things by Their Proper Names / Hangman Books / Chatham / UK

2003

The Boss of All English Riters / Hangman Books / Chatham / UK

Evidence Against Myself / Hangman Books / Chatham / UK

2000

Notebooks of a Naked Youth / Codex Books / Hove

In 5 Minutes You’ll Know Me: Selected Poems 1985-1995 / Sympathetic Press / Long Beach / US

My Fault / Codex Books / Hove / UK

This Purile Thing / Imprint 93 / Compiled and Edited by Matthew Higgs

1999

Chatham Town Welcomes Desperate Men / Hangman Books / Chatham / UK

1997

I’d Rather You Lied: Selected Poems 1980-1998 / Codex Books / Hove / UK

1996

A Terrible Hunger for Love: Unpublished poems 1982-84 / Hangman Books / Chatham / UK

Big Hart and Balls / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1994

Poems to Break the Harts of Impossible Princesses / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1993

Days with a Hart Like a Dog / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

Hunger at the Moon / Sympathetic Press / Long Beach / US

Trembling of Life / Damaged Goods / London / UK

1992

Poems of Laughter and Violence: Selected Poems 1981-1986 / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

The Hart Rises / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1991

Like a God i Love all Things / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1990

The Deathly Flight of Angels / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1989

Death of a Wood / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

The Silence of Words / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

En Carne Viva: Poemas 1984 – 1988 / Spanish /English / Stultifera Navis / Barcelona / ES

1988

Admissions to Strangers / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

Maverick Verse / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

Cannon Fodder / by Louis-Ferdinand Celine / Trans. K. De Coninck and B. / Chyldish / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

The Girl in the Tree / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

To the Quick / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1987

Companions in a Death Boat / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

Conversations with Dr. X / Black Hand Distribution / Rochester / UK

1986

Monks Without God / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1985

Poems Without Rhyme / Without Reason / Without Spelling / Without Words / Without Nothing / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

Tear Life to Pieces / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1984

Poems from the Barrier Block / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

1983

The Unknown Stuff / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

Nothing Can Stop This Man / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

10 No Good Poems of Slavery / Buggery / Boredom and Disrespect / Hangman Books / Rochester / UK

Will the Circle be Unbroken / Hangman Books / Rochester ? UK

1982

7 by Chyldish / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Big Cunt / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

You Me Blud N Knuckle / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Black Things Hidden in Dust / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

1981

The First Creacher is Jellosey / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

2 Minits walk from 10am / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Back on Red Lite rd / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Book of Nursry Rhims / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Bo-Pug: The Six Tails / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

1980

Shed Country Paintry + Poeming / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

The Dog Jaw Woman / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Fracture Clinic / Bill Lewis

The Medway Poets / Cheapo Publications / Chatham / UK

Billy Chyldish in Merz England No. 1 / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

The Man with Wheels / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Mertz in Chatham / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

The Cuckoos Cuckoo / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

1979

Kinda Garten / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Goat Gruff / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Hack Hack / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

The Arts and General Interest / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

The Kray Twins Summer Special / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Fab 69 / Phyroid Press / Chatham Bostik Haze / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

1977

Chathams Burning / Phyroid Press / Chatham / UK

Collections

Amorepacific Art Museum, Seoul, South Korea

AT G+ Museum, Fujian, China

Boros Collection, Berlin, Germany

Braunsfelder Family Collection, Cologne, Germany

Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo, NY

Goetz Collection, Munich, Germany

HEM – He Art Museum, Shunde, China

Ingram Collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art, London, United Kingdom

KR KaviarFactory, Oslo, Norway

Long Museum, Shanghai, China

TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection, Vienna, Austria

Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom

Xiao Museum of Contemporary Art, Rizhao, China

Selected Films

2005

Billy Chydlish Is Dead

2004

Brass Monkey

2003

Shooting at the Moon

2002

The Flying Mustache

1993

Cheated

1983

Quite Lives

1980

The Man With Wheels