Schiefe Zähne

Terry Atkinson

Using grease.

1) The material of the avant-garde greasers.
2) Grease—the new material.
3) Grease as a repository of the potentially oppositional. Chortle! (Be serious now! Grease is entering the portals of serious art histories of the social referent.)
4) Grease as a disaffirming material—will it ever dry? I don’t know, but I can find out. From Castrol for example. Castrol the art object consultants.
5) Grease is the perfect material for a successful art career.
6) Grease, the perfect material for the civilization of senior common room culture.
7) Grease is the perfect material for making copies.

Terry Atkinson (b. 1939 in Yorkshire, UK) studied at Slade School of Fine Art and was one of the founding members of Art & Language in 1968, as part of which he exhibited at documenta 5 (1972) curated by Harald Szeemann. After leaving the collective in 1974, Atkinson went on to exhibit at the Venice Biennale in 1984 and was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1985. He lives in Leamington Spa, England with his wife, Sue Atkinson, with whom he has frequently collaborated.

Following a self-declared break with conceptualism, Atkinson saw the movement as having been emptied of its critical and philosophical parameters and reduced to little more than a gesture or style. Atkinson’s departure from Art & Language was by no means a return to an idea of the singular artist-genius, but rather was motivated by a shift in the social dynamic from “that of a group to a caucus.” The works that followed carried his own signature or that of one of the many pseudonyms he worked under: Teresa Actor, Terry Actor, Terry Enola Gay, Terry Dog, remaining faithful to elusive, dispersed artistic production. From the mid-1970s onwards, Atkinson’s main focus was a critique of the artistic subject and reflection on the conditions of production for avant-garde art.

Works

Terry AtkinsonWing-Greaser (Hermes), 1990pencil and colored pencil on graph paper18,8 x 21 cm

Terry Atkinson
Wing-Greaser (Hermes), 1990
pencil and colored pencil on graph paper
18,8 × 21 cm

Terry AtkinsonWhiteline Signature on Dark Red Polystyrene, 1993acrylic, enamel, polystyrene, wood244 x 160 cm

Terry Atkinson
Whiteline Signature on Dark Red Polystyrene, 1993
acrylic, enamel, polystyrene, wood
244 × 160 cm

Terry AtkinsonWhiteline Signature on Dark Red Polystyrene, 1993acrylic, enamel, polystyrene, wood244 x 160 cm

Terry Atkinson
Whiteline Signature on Dark Red Polystyrene, 1993
acrylic, enamel, polystyrene, wood
244 × 160 cm

Terry AtkinsonAmerican Civil War 2 + Curtis LeMay: Study 2 American Heads, 2022pencil on paper35 x 45 cm

Terry Atkinson
American Civil War 2 + Curtis LeMay: Study 2 American Heads, 2022
pencil on paper
35 × 45 cm

Terry AtkinsonRed/Silver Enola Gay Axe Head Mute 2, 1991metal paint on board10,4 × 34 cm

Terry Atkinson
Red/Silver Enola Gay Axe Head Mute 2, 1991
metal paint on board
10,4 × 34 cm

The Books are Very Nearly Cooked , 2022Schiefe Zähne, Berlin, GermanyInstallation view

The Books are Very Nearly Cooked , 2022
Schiefe Zähne, Berlin, Germany
Installation view

Terry AtkinsonGrey Signature on White Two-Piece Polystyrene, 1993

Terry Atkinson
Grey Signature on White Two-Piece Polystyrene, 1993

Terry AtkinsonGrey Signature on White Two-Piece Polystyrene, 1993

Terry Atkinson
Grey Signature on White Two-Piece Polystyrene, 1993

Terry AtkinsonDavid Death Print/Enola Gay, 1989transfer print on paper42 x 59.4 cm

Terry Atkinson
David Death Print/Enola Gay, 1989
transfer print on paper
42 × 59.4 cm

Fake Barn Country, 2025 (Group Exhibition)Raven Row, London, EnglandInstallation view

Fake Barn Country, 2025 (Group Exhibition)
Raven Row, London, England
Installation view

Terry AtkinsonBig split brain under a light in a bunker in Armagh, a figure looks on outside three British Army helicopters on a history search, 1985pencil on paper83 x 113 cm

Terry Atkinson
Big split brain under a light in a bunker in Armagh, a figure looks on outside three British Army helicopters on a history search, 1985
pencil on paper
83 × 113 cm

ROLL OVER CHUCK BERRY, 2022Stadtgalerie Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandInstallation view

ROLL OVER CHUCK BERRY, 2022
Stadtgalerie Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Installation view

Greaser sculptures and drawings from the American Civil War, Curtis LeMay and Frontispiece series, 2025Josey, Cologne, GermanyInstallation view

Greaser sculptures and drawings from the American Civil War, Curtis LeMay and Frontispiece series, 2025
Josey, Cologne, Germany
Installation view

Terry AtkinsonTwo Software Greaser, 1992 – 2013Greaser, wood, grease, formica, projector, mac mini260 x 420 x 50 cm

Terry Atkinson
Two Software Greaser, 1992 – 2013
Greaser, wood, grease, formica, projector, mac mini
260 × 420 × 50 cm

Terry AtkinsonThis, 1996pencil on board36,8 × 55,2 cm

Terry Atkinson
This, 1996
pencil on board
36,8 × 55,2 cm

Terry AtkinsonSilver Signature/Enola Gay, 1990mixed media on card50,1 × 69,7 cm

Terry Atkinson
Silver Signature/Enola Gay, 1990
mixed media on card
50,1 × 69,7 cm

Terry AtkinsonAmerican Civil War: Study 84Americana IIWarhol's Chair: Warhol himself a formenter of, and by now, the venerable and revered patriarch of American consumership, now finds himself consumed by American consumership., 2021pencil on paper74 x 93 cm

Terry Atkinson
American Civil War: Study 84
Americana II
Warhol's Chair: Warhol himself a formenter of, and by now, the venerable and revered patriarch of American consumership, now finds himself consumed by American consumership., 2021
pencil on paper
74 × 93 cm

Terry AtkinsonBerlin, East Prussia and the Desert: Study 8A big Goyaesque, after having been driven from its roost in the Reichstag by the Bolshevik storm, lands atop Golden Lizzy (Godelse). One of ET's flying cousins hovers nearby, somewhat surprised!, 2015coloured pencil on paper29.7 x 42 cm

Terry Atkinson
Berlin, East Prussia and the Desert: Study 8
A big Goyaesque, after having been driven from its roost in the Reichstag by the Bolshevik storm, lands atop Golden Lizzy (Godelse). One of ET's flying cousins hovers nearby, somewhat surprised!, 2015
coloured pencil on paper
29.7 × 42 cm

Terry AtkinsonGrease Flag, 1991wood, grease915 x 457 x 25 cm(detail)

Terry Atkinson
Grease Flag, 1991
wood, grease
915 × 457 × 25 cm
(detail)

Terry AtkinsonGrease Flag, 1991wood, grease915 x 457 x 25 cm

Terry Atkinson
Grease Flag, 1991
wood, grease
915 × 457 × 25 cm

Signature Works, 2025rubbish bin, Berlin, GermanyInstallation view

Signature Works, 2025
rubbish bin, Berlin, Germany
Installation view

Terry AtkinsonPox -Head, 1984Mixed media 21.8 × 15 cm

Terry Atkinson
Pox -Head, 1984
Mixed media
21.8 × 15 cm

Terry AtkinsonBerlin, East Prussia and the Desert: Study 4After having watched Hitler's corpse burn, ET and a blue cousin await their ship, Berlin, April, 1945., 2016coloured pencil on paper29.5 x 42 cm

Terry Atkinson
Berlin, East Prussia and the Desert: Study 4
After having watched Hitler's corpse burn, ET and a blue cousin await their ship, Berlin, April, 1945., 2016
coloured pencil on paper
29.5 × 42 cm

Terry AtkinsonBleak, 1988transfer print and silver paint on paper55.3 × 62.3 cm

Terry Atkinson
Bleak, 1988
transfer print and silver paint on paper
55.3 × 62.3 cm

Terry AtkinsonMap of Paint Island 3, 1986mixed media21.5 × 20 cm

Terry Atkinson
Map of Paint Island 3, 1986
mixed media
21.5 × 20 cm

Terry AtkinsonEnola Gay, Bunker Slit, Wall Signature, 1993pastel on paper51.5 x 64 cm

Terry Atkinson
Enola Gay, Bunker Slit, Wall Signature, 1993
pastel on paper
51.5 × 64 cm

Terry AtkinsonBlack Hand/Blue, 1990acrylic, transfer print and metal paint on card53.1 x 81.2 cm

Terry Atkinson
Black Hand/Blue, 1990
acrylic, transfer print and metal paint on card
53.1 × 81.2 cm

Terry AtkinsonBlack Hand/Blue, 1990acrylic, transfer print and metal paint on card53.1 x 81.2 cm

Terry Atkinson
Black Hand/Blue, 1990
acrylic, transfer print and metal paint on card
53.1 × 81.2 cm

Greaser sculptures and drawings from the series ‘Berlin, East Prussia and the Desert’ and ‘American Civil War’, 2022Josey, Norwich, UKInstallation view

Greaser sculptures and drawings from the series ‘Berlin, East Prussia and the Desert’ and ‘American Civil War’, 2022
Josey, Norwich, UK
Installation view

ROLL OVER CHUCK BERRY, 2022Stadtgalerie Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandInstallation view

ROLL OVER CHUCK BERRY, 2022
Stadtgalerie Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Installation view

Terry AtkinsonBrown-Bronze Enola Gay Axe-Head Mute with Grey Enola Gay, 1990metal paint on board60 x 80 cm

Terry Atkinson
Brown-Bronze Enola Gay Axe-Head Mute with Grey Enola Gay, 1990
metal paint on board
60 × 80 cm

Terry AtkinsonBrown-Bronze Enola Gay Axe-Head Mute with Grey Enola Gay, 1990metal paint on board60 x 80 cm

Terry Atkinson
Brown-Bronze Enola Gay Axe-Head Mute with Grey Enola Gay, 1990
metal paint on board
60 × 80 cm

Terry AtkinsonA Reading of David (Ruse), 1989transfer print and metal paint on paper59.4 x 84 cm

Terry Atkinson
A Reading of David (Ruse), 1989
transfer print and metal paint on paper
59.4 × 84 cm

Terry AtkinsonA Reading of David (Ruse), 1989transfer print and metal paint on paper59.4 x 84 cm

Terry Atkinson
A Reading of David (Ruse), 1989
transfer print and metal paint on paper
59.4 × 84 cm

Greasing.

1) Grease the axle.
2) Grease the Henry Moore Medallion for proper art behavior.
3) Grease seriousness.
4) Grease the European Treasure House.
5) Grease The Wall.
6) Grease The Diamond.
7) Grease the Brit.
8) Grease Rock n’ roll.
9) Grease consciousness.
10) Grease minimalism.
11) Grease God (in John Milton’s vision heaven was landscaped—perhaps by God himself! It is rumoured God is still a he!)
12) Grease language (in John Milton’s vision God spoke—from whom did God learn the language?)
13) Grease the autonomous surface.
14) Grease the materials of art.
15) Grease the practice.

Selected Press

Exhibitions

Terry Atkinson

born 1939, Yorkshire, UK
lives and works in Leamington Spa, UK
-

1963, co-founder and member of Fine Artz
1968, co-founder and member of Art & Langauge

1984, nominated for Turner Prize

Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions

  • 2025

    Terry Atkinson: L’artista è un motore di significati, Ca’ Pesaro, Venice, IT
    Greaser sculptures and drawings from the     American Civil War, Curtis LeMay and Frontispiece series, Josey, Cologne, DE
    Artists' Books, Schiefe Zähne, Berlin, DE
    Signature Works, rubbish bin, Berlin, DE

  • 2024

    The Books Are Very Nearly Cooked, Schiefe Zähne, Berlin, DE

  • 2022

    ROLL OVER CHUCK BERRY, Stadtgalerie Bern, Bern, CH
    opere dal 1962 al 2018, Galeria Elefante, Treviso, IT

  • 2021

    Greaser sculptures and drawings from the series ‚Berlin, East Prussia and the Desert‘ and ‚American Civil War‘, Josey, Norwich, UK

  • 2019

    American Civil War, Galleria Six, Milan, IT

  • 2014

    Terry Atkinson, Yale Union, Portland, US

  • 2007

    Terry Atkinson and Susi Pop, Zwinger Galerie, Berlin, DE

  • 1999

    Real Gallery, New York, US

  • 1996

    Terry Atkinson, Luciano Inga-Pin, Milan, IT

  • 1995

    Fragments of a Career, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, DE

  • 1991

    Glimpel Fils, London, UK

  • 1987

    Stampa, Basel, CH
    Air Gallery, London, UK

  • 1985

    Turner Prize Exhibitions, Tate Britain, London, UK

  • 1983

    Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK

  • 1977

    University of Leeds Gallery, Leeds, UK
    Robert Self Gallery, London, UK

Group Exhibitions (selected)

  • 2025

    Fake Barn Country, Raven Row, London, UK
    Echo's Hunger    , curated by Dara Jochum and Franziska Wildförster, Schiefe Zähne, Berlin, DE

  • 2023

    La Guerra E' Finita! La Pace Non E' Ancora Iniziata, Fondazione Imago Mundi, Treviso, IT

  • 2019

    Intermedia, MART, Rovereto, IT

  • 2018

    Mechanisms, CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco, CA

  • 2016

    Double Act, Art and Comedy-Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC), Belfast, IR
    Raum 1 + 2, Stampa, Basel, CH

  • 2014

    Imma Collection: Conversations, Irish Museum of Modern Art - IMMA, Dublin

  • 2013

    and Materials and Money and Crisis, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Cologne, DE
    and Materials and Money and Crisis, MUMOK, Vienna, AT

  • 2012

    Projects 3 Zeichnungen 1969 - 1981, Stampa, Basel, CH

  • 2011

    Sculpture In So Many Words: Text Pieces 1960-75, Zieher Smith, New York, NY

  • 2009

    Werke der Wuppertaler Sammler der Gegenwart, Von der Heydt Museum, Wuppertal, DE

  • 2008

    The Map is not the Territory-Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, DK
    ATKINSON, BRISLEY, HEAD, Fieldgate Gallery, London, UK

  • 2006

    The Signings, Keith Talent Gallery, London, UK

  • 2005

    Drawings and Works on Paper from the IMMA Collection, Irish Museum of Modern Art - IMMA, Dublin, IR
    Go Between, Magazin4, Bregenzer Kunstverein, Bregenz, AT
    7th Sharjah International Art Biennial 7, UAE

  • 2004

    AUF PAPIER, Galerie Neher GmbH & Co. KG, Essen, DE
    The Solar Anus, Henry Peacock Gallery, London, UK
    Bearings, Landscapes from the IMMA Collection, Irish Museum of Modern Art - IMMA, Dublin, IR

  • 2003

    The Haunted Swing, Collective Gallery, Edimburg, Scotland, UK
    hockerfuckingblocked, Henry Peacock Gallery, London, UK

  • 2000

    Sentieri Interrotti. Crisi Della Rappresentazione E Iconoclastia Nelle Arti Dagli Anni Cinquanta Alla Fine, Del Secolo-Palazzo Bonaguro, Bassano del Grappa, IT

  • 1999

    Museion, Bolzano, IT

  • 1993

    Declarations of War, Kettle's Yard, Cambridge, UK

  • 1990

    Art Conceptuel Formes Conceptuelles, Galerie 1900-2000, Paris, FR

  • 1987

    State Of The Art: Ideas And Images In The 1980s, ICA Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, UK

  • 1986

    City Life: An Exhibition In Three Parts: Human Interest, Cornerhouse, Manchester, UK
    City Life: An Exhibition In Three Parts: Political Life, Cornerhouse, Manchester, UK

  • 1985

    The British Art Show: Old Allegiances and New Directions 1979-1984, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK

  • 1984

    The British Art Show: Old Allegiances and New Directions 1979-1984, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham, UK
    41st Venice Biennial, Venice, IT
    5th Biennial of Sydney, Sydney, AUS

  • 1982

    Hayward Annual 1982: British Drawing, Hayward Gallery, London, UK

  • 1980

    Printed Art: A View of two Decades, MoMA Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY

  • 1971

    British Avant-Garde, New York Cultural Center, New York, NY

  • 1970

    Information, MoMA Museum of Modern Art,New York, NY
    Conceptual Art and Conceptual Aspects, New York Cultural Center, New York, NY
    955, 000-Va, MoMA Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
    Conceptual Art and Conceptual Aspects, New York Cultural Center, New York, NY