Chapter 1
A rebellion born in a London warehouse
Chapter 2
Shock tactics and the art of surprise
Chapter 3
The billionaire patron and the media circus
Chapter 4
The global backlash and lasting legacy
YOUR GOAL
Master of The Young British Artists story
Ch 1 · A rebellion born in a London warehouse
streetspirit Michael Craig-Martin guided rebellious students from a London warehouse to art stardom.
choko Goldsmiths' open curriculum inspired students to launch a legendary warehouse art rebellion.
choko Learn how Goldsmiths College transformed modern art in the 1980s by tearing down the walls between painting, sculpture, and other media.
BETA
choko Sort outrageous masterpieces to learn why the Young British Artists split the world.
Fun Fact
Freeze title origin: The title 'Freeze' was chosen by Damien Hirst because it sounded slick, professional, and contemporary, rather than representing any cold temperature.
Glossary
yba (noun)
A punchy abbreviation for the 'Young British Artists,' a rebellious group of creators who shook up the art world from London warehouses. First coined in 1996 by Art Monthly magazine, this snappy label perfectly captured the fast-paced, rock-and-roll energy of their shocking artworks. It's like the ultimate 90s band name, proving that a great acronym can turn a group of art rebels into global stars.
A punchy abbreviation for the 'Young British Artists,' a rebellious group of creators who shook up the art world from London warehouses. First coined in 1996 by Art Monthly magazine, this snappy label perfectly captured the fast-paced, rock-and-roll energy of their shocking artworks. It's like the ultimate 90s band name, proving that a great acronym can turn a group of art rebels into global stars.
Quiz
How did the Young British Artists primarily bypass the traditional gallery system to get noticed?
choko A twenty-three-year-old student organized a landmark show that launched a generation of artists.
choko An influential art tutor changed the game by teaching students to prioritize concepts over classical painting techniques.
Glossary
freeze (noun)
A period of extremely cold weather, or an act of turning into ice. In 1988, Damien Hirst curated a landmark contemporary art show of this name in the London Docklands.
A period of extremely cold weather, or an act of turning into ice. In 1988, Damien Hirst curated a landmark contemporary art show of this name in the London Docklands.
Quiz
When was the acronym 'YBA' (Young British Artists) first coined in Art Monthly magazine?
Quiz
Which London art school did many of the Young British Artists attend in the late 1980s?
Quiz
Who was the influential Goldsmiths tutor who encouraged the Young British Artists to break traditional boundaries?