VERITY BABBS
art historian / comedian / presenter
Verity's work focuses on making the art world more accessible and bringing laughter into cultural spaces. She is the founder of Art Laughs, live art-themed comedy events which made its Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2022.
She graduated with a History of Art Degree from the University of Oxford and was named one of BBC HistoryExtra's '30 Under 30' in 2024.
She is represented by Daisy Chandley at Peters, Fraser & Dunlop.
THE HISTORY OF ART IN ONE SENTENCE
"Verity Babbs has done the impossible - taken a very high-brow, highly edu-mac-ated topic and stripped it back into bit-size pieces that make absolute sense. Nothing daunting about this book - get stuck in!”
Roo Irvine, Presenter & Antiques Expert
WRITTEN HIGHLIGHTS
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Sitting for Wilfrid Wood: He Painted my Soul and my Crooked Tooth - Plaster Magazine
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A Moment That Changed Me: I Was a Gobby Teen Who Lived to Win - Guardian
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Where Does Humour Fit in Contemporary Art? - Spaghetti Boost
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Is Orange Protest's Super Colour? - Stir World
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Is the Art World Ready for VR? - DarkLight
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How is AI Changing Art History? - Hyperallergic
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Exploring the Hop / Vine Divide - Good Beer Hunting
Other bylines include RA Magazine, Polyester Magazine, Studi0.
ART LAUGHS
Verity is the founder and host of Art Laughs art-themed comedy events, which have performed at the National Gallery, Royal Museums Greenwich, and Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair.
She regularly performs with Giddy Aunt Improv and has appeared with Criminal Improv and the Oxford Imps.
"Mention must go to Verity Babbs for her consistently competent compering, and a few of the best gags of the day" Broadway Baby
Visit the Art Laughs website for upcoming show dates.
SHOWREEL
Verity has worked as a presenter for Tate, London Art Fair, Soho House, National Film and Television School, and
London Art Studies.
She has hosted auctions, live events, and lectures, for The Auction Collective, London Art Fair, and the Feminist Lecture Program.
Her art historical '1 Sentence Answer' videos have been shared by BBC Upload and BBC 2 and seen by hundreds of thousands of viewers on social media.
She was the host of Voice FM's weekly Arts & Culture Show between 2022 and 2025.