Britain to get first glance at author Burroughs' paintings

The drug-inspired work of William Burroughs, including The Naked Lunch and The Soft Machine, has appalled, confused and delighted lovers of literature for the past 50 years. Now, more than 10 years after his death, two new exhibitions are about to reveal previously unseen work of a man who became a counter-cultural hero.

Previously unseen art works by Burroughs, shown here for the first time, are to have their first exhibition in Britain in December. The show, at the Riflemaker gallery in London's Soho, comprises more than 100 abstract works the author painted on the inside of manila folders, even as he wrote his classic works. While the morphine-addicted author is best known for his part in founding the Beatnik movement of the 1940s with Jack Kerouac and Allan Ginsberg, he was also a film-maker and artist. His work excited critics and fans when examples emerged two years ago.

Since Burroughs's death in 1997, the folders containing the unseen works have languished at his home in Lawrence, Kansas, preserved by the William Burroughs estate. The estate has been cataloguing all the items in the house, and the private file-folders are the first items ready for public exhibition.

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Tot Taylor, director of the Riflemaker gallery, said: "The file-folders come from his bedroom. He was always thinking of different things. He would file his notes in the folders and paint the insides according to how the writings could be envisaged in art. The paintings are very beautiful, some are soothing; some are psychotic. The Burroughs estate is working slowly through his things, and these files have only recently come to light.

"Burroughs has been hugely influential among musicians because of his don't-give-a-damn attitude. He was proud to be like that and was the originator of the Beatnik movement, which was hugely influential."

The exhibition overlaps with another Burroughs show also in December. Burroughs Live will form part of the GSK Contemporary showcase and include previously unseen films of the author reading his work, portraits of him by artists such as David Hockney, and collaborations between Burroughs and other artists.

The curator of GSK Contemporary, David Thorp, said it would show the author's importance for younger artists. "He was hugely influential as a presence with value outside the mainstream. He stands for something that is iconoclastic and anti-establishment in a romantic but robust way."

Life-File: The Private File-Folders of William S Burroughs is at Riflemaker from 9 Dec. Burroughs Live forms part of GSK Contemporary at the Royal Academy from 16 Dec