Goodbye Martin Sharp. One of our myths of the Sixties’ psychedelic art scene just passed away. Martin Sharp’s true icons have indelibly marked the collective imagination of an era, with his posters of Bob Dylan (Sharp was a big fan of Mr D), Donovan, Hendrix, Cream, Van Gogh, the art direction of the controversial underground zine Oz and the cover of Richard Neville‘s Play Power book. Of the psychedelic era he said: “There was a feeling of optimism, the possibility of the world working. That was definitely part of the experience”. A sense of freedom that was quite evident, with bold vitality and originality, in his designs and day-glo colors.

Born in Australia, Sharp moved to London in the mid-Sixties. His Hendrix Explosion poster (inspired by a picture by Linda McCartney) launched him at the top of the alternative art scene of the time. He soon befriended Eric Clapton and got to contribute the lyrics to the song Tales Of Brave Ulysses for Cream‘s Disraeli Gears album whose cover he also designed. Back to Australia in the Seventies, he generally kept a low profile rarely leaving the family home while maintaining his wide circle of friends in the arts world. You can always find a selection of his works at our gallery.