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Billy Childish — Self Portrate with Bones
Billy Childish

Self Portrate with Bones

A raw and unflinching self-portrait rendered in Billy Childish's characteristically bold, expressionistic brushwork, this oil on canvas depicts the artist alongside skeletal forms that evoke themes of mortality and self-examination. The painting carries Childish's signature primitive energy, with thick, gestural strokes and a directness that rejects academic polish in favor of emotional honesty. The presence of bones grounds the work in a memento mori tradition while remaining deeply personal, reflecting the artist's ongoing exploration of identity and the human condition.

Medium
oil on canvas

🔨 Auction Lot

Under the Influence

April 11, 2013

Estimate: $8,000$12,000

Sold: $10,000

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About this work

Billy Childish, Self Portrate with Bones

A raw and unflinching self-portrait rendered in Billy Childish's characteristically bold, expressionistic brushwork, this oil on canvas depicts the artist alongside skeletal forms that evoke themes of mortality and self-examination. The painting carries Childish's signature primitive energy, with thick, gestural strokes and a directness that rejects academic polish in favor of emotional honesty. The presence of bones grounds the work in a memento mori tradition while remaining deeply personal, reflecting the artist's ongoing exploration of identity and the human condition.

Medium
oil on canvas
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Bones, Introspective, Expressive, Dark Tones, Modern, Self-Portrait, British, Figurative, Oil on Canvas, Contemporary

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