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Chronicle Books acquires ‘cheeky, witty and funny’ collection of Museum Bums
Chronicle Books has acquired Museum Bums: A Cheeky Look at Butts in Art by Mark Small and Jack Shoulder, the creators behind the eponymous viral Twitter account.
World rights were acquired by associate editor Olivia Roberts from Maggie Cooper at Aevitas. It will be published on 14th September 2023, with a wall calendar available from August and notecards from October.
The publisher says: “Museum Bums, a celebration of classical art, history and shapely derrieres, encourages readers to learn something new while still managing to have a chuckle. Heritage scholars and art educators Mark Small and Jack Shoulder pair illuminating social commentary, historical context, and lively captions with captivating depictions of tasteful — and sometimes cheeky — bums in art.
"Including an angel slyly copping a feel in a 16th-century triptych, a 25,000-year-old bodacious Venus, and Cezanne’s dreamy booty-ful bathers, this assortment of artistic behinds is both a celebration and study of the bounty of beautiful bums and their everlasting impressions.”
In a joint comment the authors said: “Writing Museum Bums together has been a fever-dream come true as we plundered museums for booty and pondered on the plethora of posteriors we have found. In fact, we found so many bums that they have burst the bounds of the book and are also available as notecards and calendars too.
“Museum Bums the project has always been about looking at the world in a different way and really thinking about what we are seeing. In writing the book we were able to draw on a wealth of experience as a museum education professional and museum and archive visitor assistant; encouraging audiences to take a view that has often gone unnoticed or under-appreciated and consider how it might change our understanding. Our aim has been to share treasures both familiar and new and invite readers and art enthusiasts to try a new perspective.
“Working with our constant champion and agent Maggie from Aevitas has been an incredible journey as Museum Bums went from word of mouth social media sensation to actual book. We were shaped and guided by our gifted editors Becca and Olivia who helped keep our cheekiness in check and encouraged us at every step along the way.”
Roberts said: “Working with Mark Small and Jack Shoulder has been an absolute pleasure! Not only have they put together an incredibly stunning collection of pieces from museums around the world, they have done so in a way that is cheeky, witty and fun. Seeing their passion for art and history coexist alongside their knack for such charming and tasteful humour has been an editor’s dream!“
