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Julian Schnabel burst on the neo-expressionist art scene of the early 1980s with huge, arresting paintings on collaged shards of smashed plates. A swaggering and contentious figure whose art no longer occupies center stage, he is probably best known today as a successful filmmaker. All the more reason, perhaps, for him to shore up his reputation by co-designing a mammoth book of his life and art. Julian Schnabel dispenses with commentary, except for the artist's own brief, broad-brushed introduction. Even the titles of his works are relegated to the illustrated index, which--despite Schnabel's proclivity for unconventional surfaces--omits any mention of media. Nearly 400 full-color reproductions trace Schnabel's output from 1976 to the present, interspersed with photographs of the artist, his family, and off-camera moments from the making of Before Night Falls, his film about the gay Cuban writer Reynaldo Arenas. Of course, all the famous Schnabel preoccupations are on full view, from the persistent references to Catholic ritual to the phallic imagery and the invocations of his wife Olantz. The newest mega-series, "Big Girl Paintings"--each face featuring a horizontal swipe of paint in lieu of eyes—-seems a hollow echo of the lively portraits of friends and family from the 1980s and 1990s. But die-hard Schnabel devotees will adore this lavish volume, which accompanies an international traveling exhibition that opens in January 2004 at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt, Germany. (U.S. venues have not been announced.) —Cathy Curtis ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Poor art by a poor artist
The reason there exists no body of critical literature on Julian Schnabel is simply because his art is so blatantly uncompelling, mediocre, and self-seeking, that no one has bothered in the past three decades to waste time writing about it. Nor will you find any illuminating text here, either (one imagines there is really nothing much to say about paintings this bad anyway) -- just a few Rolling Stone-esque photos of the artist to prove his hipness . . . Painting is still cool, right?

As big as his paintings are!
What a fabulous book of this monsterous artist. Very large paintings deserve a very large book. This book not only has photos of a whole lot of his artworks. But it also has many installation photos which give the viewer a sense of just how big and bold these paintings and sculptures are in real life. If only I could get to see more of his work in person. Preferrably the Zeus & Duende and Hat Full of Rain paintings. Along with his older black and white paintings which are rendered beautifully in this context. I only wish it had more writings by Julian. But hey if it's his writings you want, you can't beat C.V.J. It's a great book about his life as an artist. And also has some fantastic insights into the world of art.

Coffee Table Paper Weight
If you love "art" on weekends,this book can save you a trip to a modern museum.

Brush strokes and raw painted color come alive
Julian Schnabel is an extraordinary 368-page "coffee table" artbook featuring and showcasing the dramatic works of American artist Julian Schnabel flawlessly reproduced in vivid color. Brush strokes and raw painted color come alive with simple yet bold form, producing imagery that stays firmly in one's mind, in this superb presentation devoted entirely to Schnabel's art itself as beyond two pages of introduction there is no text present at all, save for (at the end of the book), a "Selected Exhibition History"; a "Selected Bibliography"; an comprehensive "Artwork Index" listing the titles of the artwork comprising this quite exceptional and highly recommended compendium.

Spectacular
This is an ellegant addition to any persons collection. Well aware you are I imagine of your familiarity with Julian Schnabels paintings, so I won't ramble on here. This is a smaller publication containing plenty of examples of his work, as well as writing by Julian regarding his work that gives fine insight. ... Read more

Book Description

People have asked me, as a painter, how do I do it? There's no separation really, between life and art for me. That can sound like a pretentious thing, but what's the fucking difference? Art, that's what I do, and I use everything, consciously or unconsciously.--Julian Schnabel
Observers of contemporary art associate the name Julian Schnabel with highly evocative, large-scale paintings. At the time of his early exhibitions in the U.S. and Europe in the 80s, the larger-than-life Schnabel was loudly hailed as a new milestone in the development of painting, the savior of an art form declared dead years before. Still painting some of the most massive canvases around, Schnabel is a virtually unrivalled master in the use of "bigness" and a broad range of materials. Fragmentation and overlapping play an important role in his art, in terms of both material and content. If his paintings don't exhibit a consistent style, why should they? Instead, they combine oil painting and collage techniques, classical pictorial elements inspired by historical art, Neo-Expressionist features, as well as figuration and abstraction, gesture and structure. This volume presents a broad selection of Schnabel's paintings in a survey of his diverse oeuvre, with emphasis placed on works from 1990 to the present.

Essays by Robert Fleck, Max Hollein, Alison Gingeras and Ingrid Pfeiffer.

Hardcover, 10.25 x 11.5 in./176 pgs / 70 color and 30 b & w. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document, covering the life and work of Julian Schnabel, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thomson Gale. The length of the entry is 3304 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Artforum International, published by Artforum International Magazine, Inc. on April 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1739 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Julian Schnabel talks to Max Hollein. ('80s Then).(Interview)
Publication: Artforum International (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2003
Publisher: Artforum International Magazine, Inc.
Volume: 41Issue: 8Page: 58(2)

Article Type: Interview

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Reviews (3)

the best Schnabel art book
As a young painter I value art books as my teachers, a removed version of the artist the book covers. Schnabel's book enhances (and probably created) the mythic figure he would become (including his Achilean fall) and offers great images of the works of art he created up until the book's publication. The photos of the work are excellent. The commentary is honest (and heavily colored by Schnabel) and story-like (written with a short "burst" style like a Chuck Pahlaniuk novel). It is nearly embarrassing (which is good). Schnabel is an undervalued painter and mind. This book is an excellent entry point into his thoughts, biography, and work. There are few decent Schnabel books out there and this is by far the best.

Wonderful autobiographical achievement
What a great book! I came across this book here in Minneapolis by chance recently in a used book store and had a hard time making it to the cashier for I didn't want to stop reading. This book flows like he's sitting across from you telling you in person of his past including his rise in the art world. As I hope you are already aware, he is of the finest painters of all time. I as well don't think of Julian as overly egotistical here, but just a painter who loves painting and is well aware that his work is true and beautiful. There's a bunch of bits I would like to ramble on about, but just buy the thing and it will be one of your favorites. I don't imagine ever parting with this. It's a one of a kind as is he.

Autobiography of a modern genius
Though he's better known now as a filmmaker, Julian Schnabel was also one of the leading figures on the American Art Scene in the late '70s and '80s where, for better or worse, his gigantic canvases and infamous arrogance typified the last years of Warhol's New York. You either love the Schnabel of that period or you hate him. Luckily for me, I thought he was a genius and therefore I enjoyed his autobiography, Cvj. Covering his childhood in Texas, Cvj doesn't carry all of the insider gossip that a lot of readers will probably be looking for but it is a rare and fascinating glimpse into the development of one of the greatest artists of modern times. ... Read more

Book Description

Julian Schnabel: Works on Paper 1976-1992. Interview with the artist by Francesco Clemente. 1993. Wraps. 38 plates. 32 pages. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Letras Libres, published by Editorial Vuelta, S.A. de C.V. on June 1, 2001. The length of the article is 831 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: ARTES PLASTICAS: El traje del emperador?(TT: Plastic arts: the emperors suit?)
Author: Mara Minera
Publication: Letras Libres (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2001
Publisher: Editorial Vuelta, S.A. de C.V.
Volume: 3Issue: 30Page: 95

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Washington Times, published by News World Communications, Inc. on August 18, 1996. The length of the article is 13316 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: `Basquiat' gets lost in the crowd.(Arts)(Movies)
Author: Gary Arnold
Publication: The Washington Times (Newspaper)
Date: August 18, 1996
Publisher: News World Communications, Inc.
Page: 3

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document, covering the life and work of Seal, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thomson Gale. The length of the entry is 2573 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Washington Times, published by News World Communications, Inc. on August 18, 1996. The length of the article is 14259 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Jeffrey Wright: The actor as artist.(Arts)
Author: Gary Arnold
Publication: The Washington Times (Newspaper)
Date: August 18, 1996
Publisher: News World Communications, Inc.
Page: 3

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Julian Schnabel painting 1975-1987,by McEvilley
Please,send me E-mail about this book.Thanks. ... Read more