‘Violence and sacrifice are involved’: master collagist John Stezaker on his creepy creations

Spell (detail), 2024, by John Stezaker. Photograph: Courtesy of the artist and The Approach, London

If you want to see the very best work of John Stezaker, there’s a problem. Despite exhibiting all around the world, the artist saves his very best works for the walls of his studio in St Leonards-on-Sea.

“They’re there to reassure me: oh yes, I am a good artist,” he says.