Punk Art Returns: Sex Pistols' Aberdeen-Made Masterpiece Hits Exhibition

Aberdeen, a city in northeast Scotland, is hosting a special exhibition that celebrates the work of Jamie Reid, the artist behind the iconic album covers and posters for the legendary punk band, the Sex Pistols. This exhibition is particularly meaningful because it features an original Sex Pistols artwork that was first printed in Aberdeen in the 1970s and has now returned to its birthplace. Jamie Reid, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 76, was known for his bold and political art style. He created his first image for the Sex Pistols at Peacock printmakers, a well-known studio in Aberdeen. Peacock, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, is proud to host this exhibition, highlighting the fact that Reid’s early work was made on their premises. One of the most exciting pieces in the exhibition is an original Sex Pistols flyer, which was only tracked down last week. This flyer is extremely rare, and very few copies were ever made. John Marchant, who manages Jamie Reid’s archive, explained that he had been searching for this flyer for years. He had seen photographs of it and knew of one copy in Prague, but had never seen one in person. After putting out a call to find the flyer, he finally got lucky when he learned about someone who had bought it directly from Jamie Reid in 1986. Marchant met with the owner, received the framed flyer, and brought it to Aberdeen for the exhibition. He described the moment of unveiling the flyer as a real goosebump moment, and now it hangs proudly on the wall at Peacock. Jamie Reid was born in London in 1947 and studied at Wimbledon Art School and Croydon Art School. He had strong connections to Scotland through his family, who were from Montrose and Inverness. Reid’s artwork for the Sex Pistols, including the covers for 'God Save the Queen' and 'Anarchy in the UK,' became defining images of the punk era. The 'God Save the Queen' cover, with its cut-and-paste lettering over a photo of the Queen and the Union Jack flag, is especially famous. Reid was very politically motivated and got involved with the Sex Pistols because he saw an opportunity to spread political messages through their music and art. The exhibition at Peacock features other original materials from the same period, including collages and photographic works. John Marchant hopes that visitors will gain a broader understanding of Jamie Reid as an artist, beyond his work with the Sex Pistols. Reid’s pieces are held in major institutions such as Tate Britain, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and Houston’s Museum of Fine Art. David McCracken, the arts and business manager at Peacock and The Worm, described it as extraordinary that Reid’s story has such a strong connection to Aberdeen. He said it was slightly overwhelming for the organization to have the original print resurface for the exhibition, calling it culturally the most important print ever made at Peacock. The exhibition runs from Saturday until December 6, giving people plenty of time to visit and appreciate the art. Jamie Reid’s work is significant because it shows how art and music can come together to express powerful ideas and influence culture. The people of Aberdeen are excited to celebrate Reid’s creative legacy and to share his art with the public.