‘I Want You, Autonomy: Punk, Design and Print, 1976-88’ Russ Bestley

We are delighted to host ‘I Want You, Autonomy: Punk, Design and Print, 1976-88’ a talk by Russ Bestley. Join Russ Bestley as he situates Jamies Reid’s work for the Sex Pistols within the wider field of music graphics, particularly in relation to a new cohort of artists and designers in the emerging punk subculture. These pioneering punk designers faced challenges in their relationship with both the design professionals and longstanding traditions and working practices within the print industry of the late 1970s.

During this event his latest book ‘Turning Revolt into Style: The Process and Practice of Punk Graphic Design’ will be available to purchase. ‘Turning Revolt into Style: The Process and Practice of Punk Graphic Design’ is a ground-breaking analysis of the complex relationship between punk visual aesthetics and the graphic design and print professions, from the innovations of punk DIY pioneers to radical changes in the commercial design industry. These changes reflected not just the influence of an emerging cohort of young designers who aligned themselves with the new subculture, but also the advent of new technologies, particularly in the printing industry during the early days of photocomposition and digital reproduction.

This talk is part of ‘Eternal Ecstasy’ an exhibition celebrating British artist Jamie Reid containing original works from the John Marchant Gallery who represent the Jamie Reid Archive as well as the launch of a newly editioned screen print of Jamie Reid’s first ever artwork for the Sex Pistols – made at Peacock & the Worm in Aberdeen through our Open Access Model. For more information visit our website.

About Russ Bestley

Russ Bestley is Reader in Graphic Design & Subcultures at London College of Communication. He is editor of the academic journal Punk & Post-Punk, now in its fourteenth year, series editor and art director for the Global Punk book series published by Intellect Books and a founding member of the Punk Scholars Network. In 2013, he established the Graphic Subcultures research hub at the London College of Communication, before going on to form the UAL Subcultures Interest Group in 2022. To access his research archive visit www.hitsvilleuk.com.

Russ has written a number of books including Turning Revolt into Style: The Process and Practice of Punk Graphic Design(2025), Action Time Vision: Punk & Post Punk 7” Record Sleeves (2016), Visual Research (2004, 2011, 2015, 2022) and The Art of Punk (2012).

He has designed and curated exhibitions in London, Southampton, Blackpool, Leeds, Oxford, Birmingham and Newcastle, and designed books, posters, record covers, graphic identities and other material for the Punk Scholars Network, Active Distribution, the Hope Collective, PM Press and many others. He recently designed a critically acclaimed autobiography by Pauline Murray, Life’s A Gamble, for Omnibus Press.