This is Sydney artist and legend Martin Sharp circa 1970. I went to a terrific retrospective exhibition of his work at the Museum of Sydney last week.
Martin Sharp, born (1942) and raised in Sydney, is seen as Australia's number one pop artist. He is best known internationally as the album cover artist for Cream's Wheel's of Fire, the exploding Jimi Hendrix painting and the Mr Tambourine Man Bob Dylan portrait.
(Top two images from Art and Australia Vol.47 Spring 2009)
(Disraeli Gears LP Cover from here)
He also co-wrote songs with Eric Clapton, published scandalous (for the 60s) magazines, restored and renovated Sydney's Luna Park, was friend and collaborator of (Tip Toe Through the Tulips) Tiny Tim, designer and artist for beautiful Sydney event posters in the 70s and 80s and a whole heap of other things! Actually, the exhibition itself is a real 4D experience with all his posters and knick knacks displayed in the one huge room. I've decided to go back sometime soon and properly photograph it.
(Top: Babylon the great is fallen, fallen. Revelations 18 v2. 2000 - 2006 from the Spring Historic Houses magazine. Bottom three images are postcards from the exhibition: The Sydney Opera House is ten 1983, Tiny Tim, The Chameleon 1982 and Eternity, Haymarket! 1977)
Hope everyone is having/ will have a fabulous weekend!
Love this take on Hokusai's divine wave.
Posted by: Mary-Laure | November 07, 2009 at 02:20 PM
Great photos. I'm not really familiar with his work so this post was definitely of interest to me. Have a fantastic weekend. Cheers!
Posted by: Keith | November 07, 2009 at 02:41 PM
i would love to see one of his exhibits!
Posted by: Diana | November 07, 2009 at 06:21 PM
these are so much fun, i love to get to know new artists!
Posted by: miriam | November 07, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Oh THAT'S Martin Sharp. Of course! Please disregard the silly comment I left on a previous post of yours where you mentioned him. Yikes! I had him totally confused with Reg Mombassa. Of course you can understand why because their names are so similar... What a complete doofus I am!
I do hope that the exhibition will travel to Brissy because I'd love to see it. I'd love to see it even more than a Reg Mombassa one ;)
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend Sam!
Ok, I'm now taking my red-faced self off to slink under the nearest rock I can find...
Posted by: Tracy | November 07, 2009 at 08:23 PM
Thanks Sam its great to see that photo of Martin Sharp
carefully dressing like blue boy.
Regards
Footagehead
Posted by: Chris Wyatt | November 07, 2009 at 08:59 PM
Wow, His work is amazing! Thanks for sharing, Sam! Such amazing burst of colours on the Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan art. I really like the Eternity, Haymarket one as well.
Have a great weekend :)
Posted by: Anna | November 07, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Mary-Laure - yes, Sharp loved Japanese art and he often uses touches of it here and there in his work. He also has a great passion for Van Gogh and you can see his homage to him in the Haymarket poster with the swirling stars.
Glad to introduce him to you Keith - have a great weekend too!
Diana - I'll go back to the exhibition and take some photos and that may give you an idea of what fun it is!
Miriam - fun is the word! Also, psychadelic I think too - particularly the "Cream" LP cover!
Tracy :) ! Now you know!! :) Always so lovely to have your chatty self leave a comment sweetie!!
Ah! Mr.Wyatt - there's a touch of the Blue Boy about him there I agree - whether it be a deliberate nudge-nudge-wink-wink reference or perhaps some cosmic synchronicity I'm not entirely sure. Well spotted though!
Posted by: Sam | November 07, 2009 at 09:45 PM
Lovely post with lovely artwork. I'd never heard of Martin SHarp before!
;)
Happy Weekend!
Posted by: Certain Creatures | November 07, 2009 at 09:58 PM
He looks so dapper and fun in this photograph - I just adore him. Would love to see one of his exhibits live! :)
Posted by: Cafe Fashionista | November 08, 2009 at 03:39 AM
I knew the name but had no idea about the art dear Sam, as always you completely entertain and (hope you don't mind me typing this) educate!
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!
George sends his love!♥
Posted by: Gabbi♥ | November 08, 2009 at 09:48 AM
Is it weird that I think he looks current? Like a dandy hipster. I love his work, thanks for the post!
Posted by: Saltina | November 08, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Gosh, he was a lecturer at my uni when I was there. I never realised he was so prolific. Blush :)
Posted by: flossy-p | November 08, 2009 at 11:27 AM
His work is pretty intense! And so detailed and colourful. That's so great you got to see his works in real life. Nothing beats actually being in the same room as images you've admired for so long.
Posted by: ondressingup | November 08, 2009 at 11:57 AM
What a cool guy!
Posted by: Amelia | November 08, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Cool!! I love psychedelic art..He is definitely a talented and cool looking chap.
Hope your weekend is going wonderful!
Posted by: Kathleen | November 08, 2009 at 01:42 PM
Sam, I was at COFA :)
He was in the sculpture dept. I think. I never had him as a teacher, but I remember him. :)
Posted by: flossy-p | November 08, 2009 at 01:56 PM
amazing talent!
hope you are having a great weekend Sam!!
Posted by: Iva | November 09, 2009 at 03:56 AM
Thank you for the lovely and informative post, Sam! I hadn't heard of Martin Sharp, but some of this definitely looks familiar to me. :)
Posted by: Rebecca | November 10, 2009 at 01:57 AM
Sounds like such an amazing and fun exhibition! I can't get over how modern that portrait of him looks too, it's what today's hipsters are aspiring too I suppose.
Posted by: Missa | November 11, 2009 at 11:36 AM