Ralph Steadman: A Life in Ink

Description

Ralph Steadman: A Life in Ink is the definitive career retrospective of this revered and provocative UK artist. Renowned for his collaborations with iconic American writer Hunter S. Thompson, he formed an unlikely duo that created 'Gonzo' journalism. This lifelong collaboration included the now legendary Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, originally published in Rolling Stone magazine, which has since become a cult classic. Along with Steadman's signature ink-splattered style, he is also known for a diverse body of work that includes satirical political illustrations as well as award-winning children's books such as Alice in Wonderland. This comprehensive monograph on the life and work of Ralph Steadman is a celebration of his important and influential career.

Welsh-born and UK-based artist Ralph Steadman has been creating art for over 60 years. Best known for his long-term collaboration with American writer Hunter S. Thompson, they created Gonzo journalism and the now-seminal Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Steadman's artwork has always been provocative and sometimes controversial. From his satirical political cartoons to his downright sweet and sincere children's books, Steadman has had a remarkable and unique career and is revered by generations of fans. His distinct ink-splattered style that he developed in the1970s still resonates today and can be found in projects such as rapper Travis Scott's album cover art, Flying Dog beer, wine labels, and Vans shoes. In 2013, a documentary titled For No Good Reason - featuring long-time fan Johnny Depp - chronicled Steadman's inspiring work. Steadman was also featured in one of Anthony Bourdain's last episodes of Parts Unknown, and provided the cover art for Bourdain's last cookbook, Appetites. Now in his eighties, Steadman continues to create art every day in his studio in Kent, England.

"Best known for collaborating with the 'gonzo' writer Hunter S. Thompson in the 1960s and '70s, Ralph Steadman provided that era with a signature visual style: satirical, strung out, and suspicious of authority. A new book, Ralph Steadman: A Life in Ink, reveals the U.K.-based artist as more than just a counterculture documentarian. His sketches of London street life show a knack for capturing character in a few quick, precisely chosen pen strokes.... At 84 he still relishes turning his sharp pen on contemporary politicians." --Smithsonian magazine