Anthony Byrt

Guest writer

Anthony Byrt is an Auckland-based critic and journalist. He is a regular writer for Metro, a contributing editor to Paperboy, and the New Zealand correspondent for Artforum International. His book This Model World: Travels to the Edge of Contemporary Art was shortlisted for the 2017 Ockham national book award. Anthony was born in London in 1979.

Theo Schoon being interviewed at Tony Fomison’s house in Chamberlain Street, Grey Lynn, February 1985. Photograph by Marcel Tromp.

Book of the Week: That total asshole Theo Schoon

Anthony Byrt reviews an impeccably researched but somewhat tortured biography of Theo Schoon - only possibly a great New Zealand artist, almost certainly an anti-Semitic, misogynist, pretentious, belly-aching bitch.

By Anthony Byrt | 28th February, 2019

Pablo Picasso standing in front of his paintings at home, Notre Dame de Vie (south of France) (Photo by Cecil Beaton/Condé Nast via Getty Images)

Book of the Week: Good Picasso, Bad Picasso, Great Picasso

Anthony Byrt reviews a massive new study of Pablo Picasso - the greatest artist there ever was, but who Hannah Gadsby has called out as a disgusting #metoo pig.

By Anthony Byrt | 19th July, 2018

John Berger (Image: Antonio Marín Segovia/Flickr)

A Marxist art critic walks into a bar: Anthony Byrt on John Berger

Late last year we asked Anthony Byrt to review a collection of essays by the great John Berger. The author died in January; the review is now a kind of tribute to a writer who was a massive influence on Geoff Dyer, Olivia Laing, and others.

By Anthony Byrt | 21st February, 2017