Brian Sewell was Britain's most polarizing art critic, known for his acerbic, elitist, and unforgettable voice.

Science · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: An art critic who once suggested a plague should strike the North, Brian Sewell was a master of the scathing takedown. From dismissing modern icons like Damien Hirst to his controversial views on female artists, Sewell used his distinct, aristocratic diction to challenge the public's taste and the art establishment.

Born in 1931, Brian Sewell was a fixture of the British cultural landscape, best known for his long-running tenure as an art critic for the Evening Standard. Educated at the Courtauld Institute of Art, where he formed a close friendship with Anthony Blunt, Sewell transitioned from an art dealer to a media personality. His writing was defined by a fierce, anti-populist stance that frequently drew ire from the art world. In 1994, a group of thirty-five prominent figures in the arts issued a formal protest against his column, citing his misogyny and homophobic rhetoric, though he remained a defiant and influential voice until his death in 2015.

Sewell’s criticism was often performative and deeply elitist. He famously coined the term 'Serota tendency' to disparage the direction of the Tate Gallery under Nicholas Serota and held a lifelong disdain for conceptual art. His provocations extended beyond the gallery walls; he once suggested that the public lacked the capacity to distinguish quality from mediocrity, and his comments on regional cities like Liverpool and Gateshead were frequently viewed as insulting. Even his personal life was marked by complexity, from his admission of having slept with over 1,000 men to his complicated relationship with his own sexuality, which he described as an affliction.

Despite his reputation for cruelty, Sewell was a deeply knowledgeable historian with a genuine passion for classic cars, dogs, and travel. His television work, including The Naked Pilgrim and his series on the Grand Tour, showcased a more reflective side of his personality, rooted in a deep appreciation for history and architecture. His legacy remains so potent that in 2024, the London Standard utilized artificial intelligence to emulate his signature style for a review, a testament to his enduring, if divisive, status as a singular voice in British criticism.

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