Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy Review
The quintessential English artist, Beryl Cook, has long been a polarising figure in the art world. Critics have dismissed her work as kitsch and lacking in intellectual heft, relegating her to the realm of postcards and posters for the masses. However, this criticism overlooks the joy, positivity, and unapologetic celebration of life that pervades her oeuvre.
Cook's earliest works, displayed at her guesthouse in Plymouth, reveal a tentative yet unmistakable voice. As she matured as an artist, her paintings burst with colour, energy, and a sense of unbridled revelry. Her subjects – often caricaturesque and humorous – embody the spirit of English pub culture: drinking, dancing, dressing up, laughing. The uniformity of her characters belies their individuality, imbuing them with a universality that transcends time and place.
The exhibition at Plymouth Art Centre marks a watershed moment in Cook's career, catapulting her onto the national stage. The subsequent show at Whitechapel Gallery solidified her reputation as an artist who unapologetically revels in the mundane and the banal. Her paintings are a love letter to everyday England: sailors smoking in the docklands, women shopping at the market, nurses tending to their patients – all set against a backdrop of colour, movement, and joy.
One cannot help but be charmed by Cook's irreverent humour and unbridled enthusiasm for life. Her use of bright colours, bold lines, and exuberant characters creates a visual feast that is at once playful and profound. The Back Bar of the Lockyer Tavern, featuring patrons giggling in a pub, or the image of Plymouth Argyle FC scoring a goal with a rival fan being strangled in the background – these works showcase Cook's mastery of comedic timing and her ability to find humour in the most unlikely places.
But beneath the levity lies a deeper sense of humanity. Cook's paintings are infused with a genuine love for family, friends, and community. Her self-portraits, showcasing herself feeling intimate moments with her husband and children, convey an unwavering commitment to the beauty of everyday life. This is an artist who refuses to shy away from the mundane, instead elevating it to an art form.
The companion exhibition at Karst gallery, featuring works by contemporary artists linked to Cook's oeuvre, serves as a testament to her enduring influence. Olivia Sterling's satirical cartoons, Flo Brooks' celebratory portraits of LGBTQ lives, and Rhys Coren's hypnotic rave minimalism – all these artworks demonstrate the power of Cook's unique vision.
In an era where art often prioritises introspection and melancholy, Beryl Cook's work is a refreshing respite. Her body-positive depictions of everyday England reminded her audience that life is precious, full of laughter, joy, and fun. As Cook so eloquently puts it: "Being alive is fantastical – and we should spend every possible second celebrating it."
Ultimately, Cook's art is not just about the beauty of Englishness; it's about reclaiming the everyday as extraordinary. Her oeuvre serves as a reminder to cherish life in all its forms, to find joy in the mundane, and to never underestimate the power of a well-timed smile.
The quintessential English artist, Beryl Cook, has long been a polarising figure in the art world. Critics have dismissed her work as kitsch and lacking in intellectual heft, relegating her to the realm of postcards and posters for the masses. However, this criticism overlooks the joy, positivity, and unapologetic celebration of life that pervades her oeuvre.
Cook's earliest works, displayed at her guesthouse in Plymouth, reveal a tentative yet unmistakable voice. As she matured as an artist, her paintings burst with colour, energy, and a sense of unbridled revelry. Her subjects – often caricaturesque and humorous – embody the spirit of English pub culture: drinking, dancing, dressing up, laughing. The uniformity of her characters belies their individuality, imbuing them with a universality that transcends time and place.
The exhibition at Plymouth Art Centre marks a watershed moment in Cook's career, catapulting her onto the national stage. The subsequent show at Whitechapel Gallery solidified her reputation as an artist who unapologetically revels in the mundane and the banal. Her paintings are a love letter to everyday England: sailors smoking in the docklands, women shopping at the market, nurses tending to their patients – all set against a backdrop of colour, movement, and joy.
One cannot help but be charmed by Cook's irreverent humour and unbridled enthusiasm for life. Her use of bright colours, bold lines, and exuberant characters creates a visual feast that is at once playful and profound. The Back Bar of the Lockyer Tavern, featuring patrons giggling in a pub, or the image of Plymouth Argyle FC scoring a goal with a rival fan being strangled in the background – these works showcase Cook's mastery of comedic timing and her ability to find humour in the most unlikely places.
But beneath the levity lies a deeper sense of humanity. Cook's paintings are infused with a genuine love for family, friends, and community. Her self-portraits, showcasing herself feeling intimate moments with her husband and children, convey an unwavering commitment to the beauty of everyday life. This is an artist who refuses to shy away from the mundane, instead elevating it to an art form.
The companion exhibition at Karst gallery, featuring works by contemporary artists linked to Cook's oeuvre, serves as a testament to her enduring influence. Olivia Sterling's satirical cartoons, Flo Brooks' celebratory portraits of LGBTQ lives, and Rhys Coren's hypnotic rave minimalism – all these artworks demonstrate the power of Cook's unique vision.
In an era where art often prioritises introspection and melancholy, Beryl Cook's work is a refreshing respite. Her body-positive depictions of everyday England reminded her audience that life is precious, full of laughter, joy, and fun. As Cook so eloquently puts it: "Being alive is fantastical – and we should spend every possible second celebrating it."
Ultimately, Cook's art is not just about the beauty of Englishness; it's about reclaiming the everyday as extraordinary. Her oeuvre serves as a reminder to cherish life in all its forms, to find joy in the mundane, and to never underestimate the power of a well-timed smile.
Beryl Cook's art is more than just colorful posters - it's a celebration of life! 
I love how she finds humor in everyday moments and doesn't shy away from showing her family and friends in all their quirks 
. Her art is like a big ol' hug for the soul 
. It's amazing to see how her work has influenced so many other artists, too 
. I think what resonates with people most is that she reminds us to not take ourselves too seriously and to find joy in the little things 
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. Her art is just so... cheerful? Like, it's impossible not to feel good when looking at her paintings, you know? The colors, the characters, everything just feels so joyful and carefree 
? It's like she's reminding us that life is short and we should be making the most of it.
. And don't even get me started on how some of these paintings are just straight-up caricatures – I mean, come on Beryl, can't you do better than that? 
. Maybe not everyone will appreciate her style, but hey, who doesn't love a good laugh and some color in their lives? 
. People are too quick to dismiss her work because it's not "high-brow" enough, but I think that's what makes it so refreshing 
. She's unapologetically celebrating life in all its forms, and that's something we could all use a bit more of 
. Her art isn't just about painting pretty pictures; it's about capturing the essence of everyday England and making us smile 
. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good dose of positivity and joy? 
Cook's art is like a warm hug for the soul, you feel? 
i love how she uses humor to tackle serious issues like relationships & community 
and yeah, it's awesome to see artists like Olivia Sterling, Flo Brooks & Rhys Coren drawing inspiration from her style 
. Like, okay, her paintings are cheerful and whatnot, but that doesn't mean we have to fawn all over her like she's the Queen of Kitsch 
. And can we please stop saying she's "unapologetically celebrating life" when really, it just sounds like she's ignoring all the complexities and problems of the world for the sake of a good laugh 
. Some people might find her work annoying or juvenile, and that's perfectly fine too 
. Her use of bright colours and bold lines is so infectious, it'll have you smiling from ear to ear 
, give me more joy and positivity any day! 
I love how she celebrates the ordinary, making us see the magic in everyday life. It's like she's saying, "Hey, life is good, let's party!" 
. We need more artists like Beryl Cook in the world, spreading joy and laughter wherever they go! 
finally someone who gets her vibe... i mean she's not for everyone but there's just something so infectious about her art 
, reminds me of those old british comedies where they'd just have these wacky characters doing silly things... yeah that's definitely what cook's art feels like 
. Her influence on contemporary artists is also impressive, her work has inspired a new wave of creatives to explore the power of positivity and humour in art 
. Cook's legacy is a testament to the fact that art can be fun, playful, and still profound 
i mean, who wouldn't want to hang out with sailors smoking in the docklands or nurses tending to their patients? 
? its all about feel good vibes & celebrating life's little moments, rite? 
. But what I love most about her is how she manages to balance that energy with a deeper sense of humanity - she's all about celebrating life and community, even when the world can be pretty dark 
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