Bad Horsey is a Scottish artist and a founding member of the art collective Estudio Caballito Malo. In a similar manner to Bristol graffiti artist Banksy, his actual identity remains a secret, despite collaborations with artists like Peter Blake and Nicola Gregory.
His works have been received as ingenious and demented in almost equal measures, with particular criticism being levelled at his 2003 series of doctored newsprint images of atrocities in Cambodia and 9/11. Frieze magazine criticised him for choosing easy targets whilst in the same issue applauding his use of unorthodox materials such as jigsaw puzzles and lasers. In 2004 he founded Estudio Caballito Malo, patterned heavily on Estudio Mariscal, the brainchild of Spanish artist Javier Mariscal. Bringing together an equally anonymous group of artists and designers, Estudio Caballito Malo is a combination of design studio and a platform for group exhibitions. These are typically announced at very short notice, having taken place in a variety of venues from galleries to pubs and a fire station. He occasionally contributes to the B3TA internet community.
In the few interviews that Bad Horsey has given, he has revealed almost nothing about his background and schooling, but has admitted to having played bass with ex-Cult drummer Nigel Preston and Gun Club singer Jeffrey Lee Pierce in Irish band The Baby Snakes, and to having contributed occasionally to The Big Issue and Big Cheese magazines.
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