Leading artists including Chris Ofili and Rachel Whiteread have paid tribute to Adrian Searle, the Guardian’s outgoing chief art critic, praising his unique blend of insight, humour and generosity. Searle, who has been with the newspaper for decades, steps down after a career that began as a painter and teacher before he became one of Britain’s most respected art critics.
Ofili recalled meeting Searle as a student at Chelsea School of Art in the late 1980s, describing his writing as “a natural extension of his art practice and teaching”. He added: “Adrian looks and writes with an open heart and understands that, at its best, art is evidence of love.” Whiteread, who first knew Searle as a teacher at St Martin’s School of Art in 1980, said his criticism “quickly became one that artists deeply cherished”, noting his “visceral engagement” and “elegance that went beyond journalism”.
Artist Mona Hatoum likened Searle to Alice in Wonderland, praising his “sharp sense of humour” and ability to make readers laugh about art’s vanities while remaining kind and caring. She also revealed a coincidental connection: they were born on the same day and year. Another contributor, Jane and Louise Wilson, recalled meeting Searle in 1993 when he waded through the Serpentine lake to see an exhibition, describing his “determination, curiosity and absolute commitment to the artwork”.
Many artists highlighted Searle’s supportive nature. The Wilson sisters recounted a journey where Searle quietly helped their travel-sick son and insisted on disposing of the sick bag himself. “A small, generous gesture, but one that said everything about him,” they said. Others called for his collected writings to be published, with one describing him as “the Pauline Kael of art criticism”.
