Jamie Reid studied at Croydon Art School and towards the end of his studies he met fellow student, Malcolm McLaren. They shared a deep interest in situationist concepts that were a critique of capitalism based on a mixture of Marxism and surrealism. Reid described himself as a ‘seditionary’, meaning that in speech, writing or behaviour he would encourage people to fight against or oppose the ‘establishment’. In the UK, Reid took to organising protests and sit-ins with Malcom McLaren and his fashion designer girlfriend Vivienne Westwood . . . and so the beginnings of the punk rock movement began.
They believed themselves to be authentic seditionists, that is, rebels dedicated to overtly stirring up discontent and even insurrection towards established authority. Westwood would describe her views on the subject as somewhat more straight forward: “We were just saying to the older generation we don’t accept your taboos and your values and you’re all fascists . . . It was the idea that the world was so mismanaged that we hated the older generation because they weren’t doing anything about it.”
Below are works for sale that fit with the punk anti-establishment ideal, including more recent practitioners. If you're not looking to buy, but want to learn more about pop and punk art, click here to read the biographies of the artists and influencers of these great movements.
