gilbert and george: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal (in artistic/academic contexts), Neutral (in general cultural discussion)
Quick answer
What does “gilbert and george” mean?
A proper noun referring to the British artistic duo Gilbert Prousch (born 1943) and George Passmore (born 1942).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to the British artistic duo Gilbert Prousch (born 1943) and George Passmore (born 1942).
Used metonymically to refer to the distinctive collaborative art, persona, and aesthetic created by the duo, characterized by large-scale photo-based works, formal suits, and themes exploring urban life, identity, sexuality, and religion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a UK cultural reference, more immediately recognizable in British English. In American English, likely known only in art-world contexts.
Connotations
In UK: Connotes a specific, sometimes controversial, pillar of modern British art. In US: Connotes specialized knowledge of contemporary European art.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “gilbert and george” in a Sentence
[Gilbert and George] + [verb in singular form] + (object)[Subject] + [verb] + [a work/photo/exhibition] + by Gilbert and GeorgeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gilbert and george” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The gallery has a distinctly Gilbert and George feel to it now.
American English
- His latest work is very Gilbert-and-George in its boldness.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused, except in art market reports (e.g., 'A Gilbert and George sold for a record sum.').
Academic
Used in art history, cultural studies, and visual culture papers discussing post-modernism, performance, and photography.
Everyday
Used in general cultural conversation, e.g., discussing a museum visit or a documentary.
Technical
Used in curatorial, museum, and art criticism contexts with precision to refer to their specific oeuvre and methods.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gilbert and george”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gilbert and george”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gilbert and george”
- Using plural verbs for their collective output (e.g., 'Gilbert and George *are* controversial' is ambiguous; 'Gilbert and George *is* a controversial artistic entity' is better for the duo as a unit).
- Misspelling as 'Gilbert & George' in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are two individuals, Gilbert Prousch and George Passmore, but they present themselves and create art as a single, inseparable collaborative entity.
They are best known for their large, brightly coloured photo-based works, often arranged in multi-panel grids, which they call 'picture sculptures'. Their work is graphic and deals with social issues.
The matching formal suits are part of their 'living sculpture' persona, presenting themselves as respectable, uniformed figures while creating art that often challenges conventional respectability.
It depends. When referring to the duo as a single artistic entity, use singular (e.g., 'Gilbert and George is exhibiting'). When referring to the two men as individuals, use plural (e.g., 'Gilbert and George were born in the 1940s'). Context usually dictates the singular usage for their work.
A proper noun referring to the British artistic duo Gilbert Prousch (born 1943) and George Passmore (born 1942).
Gilbert and george is usually formal (in artistic/academic contexts), neutral (in general cultural discussion) in register.
Gilbert and george: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡɪlbət ən ˈdʒɔːdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡɪlbərt ən ˈdʒɔːrdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'G & G' in smart suits, making graphic, giant pictures about city life.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ARTISTIC DUO AS A SINGLE ORGANISM; ART AS SOCIAL COMMENTARY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Gilbert and George' most precisely used?