Derek Boshier, the acclaimed British Pop artist known for his collaborations with David Bowie, passed away on September 5 at his Los Angeles home. He was 87. The news of his death was confirmed by galleries representing him, including Gazelli Art House in London, Night Gallery in Los Angeles, and Garth Greenan in New York.
Boshier, born in Portsmouth in 1937, achieved international fame for designing album covers for iconic musicians such as David Bowie and The Clash. His diverse career spanned painting, drawing, photography, film, video, assemblage, and installation. His early works, reminiscent of fellow British Pop artist Richard Hamilton, critically explored themes of U.S. military power and consumer culture through satirical imagery featuring cowboys, toothpaste, atomic bombs, and Pepsi logos.
In a 2017 interview with Art Zealous, Boshier reflected on his work, stating, “My work has always been about pop culture.” He noted that his first Pop art piece, “Situation in Cuba,” created in 1961, is housed in a museum in Havana. Boshier also mentioned a shift in his work in the 1970s towards overtly political themes, driven by his deep involvement in left-wing politics during a 13-year hiatus from painting.
Related Topics: