Mike Kelley

by Eva Meyer-Hermann (Editor), George Baker (Contributor), Branden Joseph (Contributor)

This thematic retrospective catalogue is the most comprehensive volume ever published on the iconoclastic American artist Mike Kelley.

Beginning in the mid-1970s, Mike Kelley assembled an incredibly diverse and often controversial body of work. Working across many disciplines, he created works on paper, paintings, sculpture, video, installation, music and sound works, and performances that managed to be at once shocking yet funny, and complex yet accessible. This companion volume to a much-anticipated retrospective exhibition was conceived in close collaboration with the artist as an overview of his career—from his early Performative Sculptures and Objects to the "abject" sculptures made of old stuffed animals to the multi-part video installation Day Is Done to the ambitious Mobile Homestead, the artist’s final work before his untimely passing in 2012. This book features essays and a fully annotated plate section, as well as a newly researched and revised exhibition chronology, performance history, videography, discography, and bibliography of Kelley’s work. In addition, the publication includes the artist’s last interview. Mike Kelley promises to be the definitive reference on the work of this singular and highly influential artist.

Genres: Art

400 pages, Hardcover

First published December 25, 2012

Reviews

[Jeff Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Career overview of the great Mike Kelley. Most of his sculptural and multimedia works are difficult to capture via photograph, so the book works better as a memory aid for visitors to his massive retrospective exhibit than as a solid introduction. Some of the texts are weighed down by art world jargon, but they're offset by an illuminating interview with Kelley that was recorded shortly before his untimely death.

[Leonard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know about Mike Kelley until seeing this book and he probably had some creative ability, but I wasn't impressed by the images of the work done. I didn't see any that grabbed my attention, although I did read the entitled "The Greatest Tragedy of President Clinton's Administration," and thought it mildly interesting. I didn't read the captions but just looked at the images.

[Terence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of years of work in Mike's life, excellent section on DAM and his music and performances. Just a good book.