Pure Evil is the alias of Welsh-born graffiti artist Charles Uzzell Edwards. He is renowned throughout the world for his impressive artworks powered by the urban and skate culture he witnessed during his decade long sojourn in California in the 1990’s. Returning to England after a decade in California, Pure Evil became involved in Banksy’s pop-up gallery concept known as “Santa’s Ghetto” and began producing his trademark images of fanged bunnies and his highly regarded Nightmare series of portraits of famous figures. The bold images of Pure Evil, both on the street, on canvas and in screen printed form, have become icons of East London.
‘The Nightmare Series’:
Pure Evil explains that a chance email from a Chinese “copy village” gave impetus to his “Nightmare Series.” The village offered, via email, a list of artists it could reproduce, including three Andy Warhol paintings. The idea of Warhol’s entire artistic output distilled right down to three small 64 x64 pixel thumbnails of Jackie Kennedy, Liz Taylor and an Electric Chair became the inspiration for these doomed and dripping celebrity portraits. Why are they crying ? “Its an illustration of the heartbreak and sadness we have all experienced in relationships in the past.”
The Story:
In July 2016 I went on a PURE EVIL PICKERS trip across the USA, visiting the following cities;
Austin TX - Denver CO - Albuquerque NM - Santa Fe AZ - Sedona AZ - Las Vegas NV - Death Valley CA - Zabriskie Point CA - Bakersfield CA - Oakland, CA
Along the way I found 'rusty gold', old porcelain metal and enamel signs, and I'm starting to paint these signs with my iconic 'Nightmare Series'.
- Subject Matter: Portrait
- Created: 2017
- Inventory Number: 248
Other Work From G. S.
Personal collection of Pop-Art, Street-Art, and Graffiti.
Not for sale!
Work is available for Museums and/or Exhibitions as well as Scholarly and/or Scientific Projects.
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