Jamie Reid is an English artist and anarchist from Croydon, London. Reid grew up in a very politically active family and his powerful art prints explore issues such as nuclear weapons, racism and the criminal justice system. Reid is probably best known for his work with The Sex Pistols.
Jamie Reid is an English artist and anarchist from Croydon, London. Reid grew up in a very politically active family and his powerful art prints explore issues such as nuclear weapons, racism and the criminal justice system. Reid is probably best known for his work with The Sex Pistols.
Reid studied at Croydon Art School, where he met Malcom McLaren, the future manager of the Sex Pistols. Reid’s décollage album and single covers for the band played a major role in defining the British punk movement’s aesthetic. Reid produced scandalous and famous works by defacing elements of pop culture and nationalist imagery, such as Cecil Beaton’s Silver Jubilee portrait of the Queen. As the editor of the seminal anarchist publication Suburban Press during the 1970s, Reid created mosaics by combining drawings, stickers, banners and posters, articulating contemporary issues and illustrating his message in a provocative way. He has participated in anti-war art exhibitions and campaigned on issues including poll tax, Clause 28 and the Criminal Justice Bill. Reid remains politically active today, producing works for zines and other media, and is currently represented by John Marchant Gallery in London. Reid’s art has been collected by Vivienne Westwood, Madonna and Angelina Jolie and can be found in The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Tate Gallery in London, among others.
Reid has Druid heritage.
Reid admires the work of William Blake.
In 2012 Reid condemned the Russian government and showed his support for the imprisoned punk band Pussy Riot with an image of Vladimir Putin in a balaclava.
We love how Reid uses his highly unique vision to respond to key issues.
Reid collaborated with the American street artist and ‘OBEY’ founder, Shepard Fairey, on political images focusing on climate change and the banking crisis.
