Martin Creed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Creed
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| Born | 21 October 1968 Wakefield, England
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| Education | Slade School of Art at University College London |
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Notable work
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| Awards | Turner Prize (2001) |
Martin Creed (born October 21, 1968) is a British artist and musician known for his surprising and often playful art. He creates installations, sculptures, paintings, and even music.
In 2001, he won the famous Turner Prize, a major award for artists in Britain. The artwork he showed was very simple: an empty room where the lights turned on and off every five seconds. This piece, called Work No. 227: The lights going on and off, made people talk and think about what art can be. Creed currently lives and works in London.
Early Life and School
Martin Creed was born in Wakefield, England. When he was three, his family moved to Glasgow, Scotland. His parents were Quakers, a religious group that values simplicity, which may have influenced his art.
Growing up, he loved both art and music. From 1986 to 1990, he studied art at the Slade School of Art in London. After finishing his studies, he made London his home, though he also spent a few years living on a small island in Italy called Alicudi.
What is Creed's Art Like?
Creed's art is very diverse. He uses many different materials and ideas, from films and paintings to live performances. He gives each of his artworks a number and a simple, descriptive title.
For example, Work No. 88 is just a sheet of A4 paper crumpled into a ball. Another piece, Work No. 200: Half the air in a given space, is a room filled halfway with balloons, so visitors have to walk through them. These simple ideas challenge people to see everyday objects in a new way.
Winning the Turner Prize
In 2001, Creed won the Turner Prize for his work. His entry for the prize show was Work No. 227: The lights going on and off. It was just an empty gallery room where the lights would switch on for five seconds, then off for five seconds, over and over.
This caused a big debate. Some people wondered if an empty room could really be considered art. One visitor even threw eggs at the walls in protest. However, the judges of the prize loved its boldness and cleverness. They felt it made people aware of the space around them.
Famous Art Projects
Creed has created many memorable artworks. For the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, he organized Work No. 1197: All the bells in the country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes. This piece celebrated the start of the games with sound.
He also created Work No. 850, where he had athletes sprint through the famous Tate Britain art gallery every 30 seconds. This turned a simple action into a surprising piece of live art.
Although he is known for his simple ideas, Creed also creates paintings. In recent years, his exhibitions almost always include colorful paintings he has made.
Public Art You Can See
Many of Creed's artworks are out in public for everyone to enjoy.
- Everything is Going to be Alright: This is a famous phrase Creed uses in his art. He has created large neon signs with these words in cities around the world, including London, New York, and Christchurch, New Zealand. Each one is a unique work with its own number.
- The Scotsman Steps: In Edinburgh, Scotland, Creed transformed a public staircase. For Work No. 1059, he covered each of the 104 steps with a different kind of marble from all over the world. It turned a simple walkway into a beautiful and surprising experience.
- MOTHERS: In Fort Worth, Texas, he installed a giant, spinning sign on a rooftop that spells out the word "MOTHERS."
Creed's Music
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Besides being a visual artist, Martin Creed is also a musician. He started his first band, Owada, in 1994. He often includes sound in his gallery art, using things like metronomes and doorbells.
He now releases music under his own name and has his own record label called Telephone Records. He writes his own songs, sings, and plays instruments. His music is often described as direct and honest, much like his art. He has released several albums, including Love To You (2012), Mind Trap (2014), and Thoughts Lined Up (2016).
What Creed Says About Art
Martin Creed says he makes art because he wants to communicate with people. He doesn't see his work as a puzzle to be solved, but as a way to express feelings and connect with others.
In an interview, he said: "I think it’s all to do with wanting to communicate. I mean, I think I want to make things because I want to communicate with people, because I want to be loved, because I want to express myself."
For Creed, art starts with an emotion or a desire to create something. He believes the simple act of making something is important, whether it's a crumpled piece of paper, a room full of balloons, or a song.
See also
In Spanish: Martin Creed para niños
