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Gonzo: The Art
A three-decade retrospective of Ralph Steadman’s caustic, witty, outrageous art, including illustrations from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the other legendary collaborations with Hunter S. Thompson that spawned "gonzo journalism." Illustrated throughout in color and black-and-white, with an introduction by Hunter S. Thompson.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 1998
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3177 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Steadman
154 books270 followersRalph Steadman (born Wallasey, May 15, 1936) is a British cartoonist and caricaturist.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.
Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.
Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.
Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."
As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.
Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.
Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.
Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.
Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.
Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."
As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.
Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.
Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 36 reviews
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February 13, 2011God bless the public education system for putting a copy of this in my school library in Junior High
December 24, 2011
Like Bacon or Goya, Steadman's work can be unsettling. Often described as grotesque, bestial, cynical and disturbing, his work nonetheless serves as a poignant, critical, satiric and unapologetic affront to our society. Paired with HST it's magic to capture the frenzy chaos we imagine and transports us. I enjoyed reading Steadman's writing, but was more captivated by the layout of images in this well organized book. Probably the most interesting/dark is "The Plague & the Moonflowers." Well worth reading or (which I rarely say) buying.
March 4, 2009
To my mind, Steadman's work is very reminiscent of Stephen Gammel's truly impressive, deeply effective illustrations, most notably found in a befitting black and white format in the
Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark
trilogy.
March 23, 2025
Barely perused the writing. Concentrated on the images.
Beast bites back…pg 16
The dream of reason produces monsters…pg 39
Mum and dad pg 84 & 45
Study I’m gamboge hat…pg 111 $ 112
Pg 124 & 125
The world, the tyrant, and the leaky boat…pg 199
Self paranoid…pg 208
Beast bites back…pg 16
The dream of reason produces monsters…pg 39
Mum and dad pg 84 & 45
Study I’m gamboge hat…pg 111 $ 112
Pg 124 & 125
The world, the tyrant, and the leaky boat…pg 199
Self paranoid…pg 208
February 27, 2018
Was amazed by this book
July 14, 2018
Too good
July 25, 2024
Top notch creative! A true original! HST was lucky to have him onboard.
February 13, 2025
This collection didn’t quite have that umph for me, but there were amazing pieces in here.
January 2, 2026
Wild man, cool art.
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November 4, 2009Excerpt: Steadman on Steadman interview (archives)
In February, writer Sally Vincent sat down in the home studio of artist Ralph Steadman, 70, in Kent, England for a cover story interview. Below is an excerpt of that conversation, available in full in Issue 26: The U.K. Issue
Stop Smiling: You stopped drawing politicians a while back. Have you ever been tempted to start again?
Ralph Steadman: I stopped in 1987 because it felt indecent to draw someone you wouldn’t ask home for supper. But that was just personal. I thought there was something unwholesome about political caricature based on the certain knowledge that each time you draw one of the bastards it feeds into their monstrous egos, because they always want to own the drawing. No matter how bad the likeness, how hideous the caricature, to them it’s a powerful rendition, fodder for their insatiable egos. The more wicked and cruel the portrait, the more passionately they want to own it, as though they have somehow earned the glory of this vicious, awful vituperation. It is only a one-man campaign to wither the inflated sense of self-importance of our venal representatives. I doubt there’s a politician alive who has felt the draught of my indifference. And no, I’ve never been tempted. I wouldn’t give any of them the satisfaction.
Stop Smiling Online">Read the excerpt...
In February, writer Sally Vincent sat down in the home studio of artist Ralph Steadman, 70, in Kent, England for a cover story interview. Below is an excerpt of that conversation, available in full in Issue 26: The U.K. Issue
Stop Smiling: You stopped drawing politicians a while back. Have you ever been tempted to start again?
Ralph Steadman: I stopped in 1987 because it felt indecent to draw someone you wouldn’t ask home for supper. But that was just personal. I thought there was something unwholesome about political caricature based on the certain knowledge that each time you draw one of the bastards it feeds into their monstrous egos, because they always want to own the drawing. No matter how bad the likeness, how hideous the caricature, to them it’s a powerful rendition, fodder for their insatiable egos. The more wicked and cruel the portrait, the more passionately they want to own it, as though they have somehow earned the glory of this vicious, awful vituperation. It is only a one-man campaign to wither the inflated sense of self-importance of our venal representatives. I doubt there’s a politician alive who has felt the draught of my indifference. And no, I’ve never been tempted. I wouldn’t give any of them the satisfaction.
Stop Smiling Online">Read the excerpt...
June 4, 2016
My oldest son was a Hunter S. Thompson fan back in the day so this lavishly illustrated and beautifully printed glossy book of the art and reminiscences of his frequent co-collaborator, Ralph Steadman, seemed a natural Christmas present for him about 15 years ago. I remember there being a big stack of these on the bargain shelf at Barnes & Noble for $9.99 back when these were going for $20 - $30 each on Ebay, so I said, "What the heck" and bought all five they had. I gave one to him, kept one for myself, and sold the other three for $25 each. I came out pretty well on that one.
Steadman's cheekily grotesque art seems like something rendered by splitting the human body down the middle, grabbing the flaps and turning it inside out to reveal the sinew and nastiness, with plenty of splatter and chaos in the wake. I kept beating my brain trying to remember who Steadman reminded me of, and I finally concluded that his work bore some resemblance to the work of the German artist of the 1920s, George Grosz. There are probably other influences or stylistic kindred spirits I'm not aware of. Nevertheless, Steadman's style is truly original. It would be easy to call his work like a train wreck you can't turn away from, but that wouldn't be fair. There is great beauty in the ugliness of his world.
Thompson provides an amusing intro and Steadman similarly peppers the pages with interesting reflections.
(KevinR@Ky 2016)
Steadman's cheekily grotesque art seems like something rendered by splitting the human body down the middle, grabbing the flaps and turning it inside out to reveal the sinew and nastiness, with plenty of splatter and chaos in the wake. I kept beating my brain trying to remember who Steadman reminded me of, and I finally concluded that his work bore some resemblance to the work of the German artist of the 1920s, George Grosz. There are probably other influences or stylistic kindred spirits I'm not aware of. Nevertheless, Steadman's style is truly original. It would be easy to call his work like a train wreck you can't turn away from, but that wouldn't be fair. There is great beauty in the ugliness of his world.
Thompson provides an amusing intro and Steadman similarly peppers the pages with interesting reflections.
(KevinR@Ky 2016)
August 23, 2007
Ralph Steadman is most well known for illustrating various writings by Hunter S. Thompson. This large volume is a generous survey of his unique artwork from the 60s to the 90s. Steadman's trademark is in creating work that forces you to look at it by way of shock, whether that be by sketching obscenely unglamorous ink caricatures of his subjects or by creating grotesque humanoid figure collages using textbook anatomical studies of bones and muscles coupled with garishly splattered red paint. This is particularly effective when Steadman creates cynical studies of politicians and piggish aristocrats. Overall, the book gives a broad and thorough overview of Steadman's body of work and unique style.
February 28, 2013
This is one of the greatest compendiums of contemporary art I own. It has occupied pride-of-place on my coffee table since two hours after it arrived (had to go through it first), which means every visitor to my home sees it immediately upon sitting down. Reactions have been mixed-nobody disagrees as to Mr. Steadman's talent level, though quite a few have wished that he would choose different subjects to skewer with his warped pen. On the other hand, those who have been introduced to the work of this artist and enjoyed it now have the volume in their own homes. Not for the faint of heart, but rewarding to those who look at things slaunchwise through their own dark mirrors of the soul.
May 22, 2010
Disappointed this book is as close as I can get. Amazing illustrations and insanely inspiring to creation of something real and the idea that it takes collaboration to create greatness. Besides great art, this book contains some great poetic scribblings of Steadman and a few great stories of his friendship with Hunter S Thompson, who happens to write the hilarious forward.
July 20, 2014
This is a nicely printed book and has a lot of his work for the price. It also has a lot to read with it, that is pretty interesting if you didn't know a lot about Steadman or Thompson.
It gets 4/5 because I'm a big Steadman fan and I feel like a few of my favourite drawings weren't in there. Some I haven't seen was in there though, which made up for it.
It gets 4/5 because I'm a big Steadman fan and I feel like a few of my favourite drawings weren't in there. Some I haven't seen was in there though, which made up for it.
January 28, 2008
This book makes me so fucking jealous. I cannot stand to read it any more. I love Ralph Styeadman's work. he is among my top 3 favorite artists of all time, but his work makes me so fucking jealous!!!!!!
August 5, 2009
Ralph Steadman, el cool of the squirting fountain pen. I Highly recommend this great artist. From the 'Grapes of Ralph', to his work on the 'Animal Farm', and all the wine bottles and beer bottle labels he has painted through the years.
January 4, 2018
I love love love this book and the art in it. Pure genius.
Even if you don't agree with every single written statement or every piece of artwork expressed by Ralph Steadman, you can't deny the genius and the creativity behind every single work exhibited here.
Even if you don't agree with every single written statement or every piece of artwork expressed by Ralph Steadman, you can't deny the genius and the creativity behind every single work exhibited here.
October 28, 2007
I have looked at this book and other titles by Mr. Steadman over and over, each time I see something unexpected. He is a brilliant and disturbing artist. Big props.
December 3, 2007
I love owning this book - it's primarily art, but it's great.
October 21, 2020
just received this for xmas, and i can't wait to give it a go.
January 24, 2008
A great illustrator. Got this and other Steadman books used, and refer to them frequently for ideas, attitude, inspiration.
February 26, 2008
A collection of work by Hunter S. Thompson's artist and cohort, Ralph Steadman. Beautiful and compelling images abound in this beautiful collection.
May 29, 2009
my favorite tabletop reference. I am mystified by steadman's imagery.
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June 28, 2009own it... it's art... can't really read it, though...
November 23, 2009
Great images
September 8, 2010
Only for Hunter S. Thompson fans.
February 4, 2022
Favourite - artist - ever.
August 22, 2011
ART BOOK all steadman
Displaying 1 - 29 of 36 reviews