Business Finance Media Technology Policy Wealth Insights Interviews

Art Art Fairs Art Market Art Reviews Auctions Galleries Museums Interviews

Lifestyle Nightlife & Dining Style Travel Interviews

Power Lists Nightlife & Dining Art A.I. PR

About About Observer Advertise With Us Reprints

Can Rock Royalty Really Make Art Worth Owning?

With demand for works by Bob Dylan to Bowie and Thom Yorke, the market for musician-made art is more serious than you might expect.

Last year, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, staged “This Is What You Get,” an exhibition of artwork by artist Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead. Critics’ reactions were mixed. The Guardian said of the artwork, “Does it stand up to scrutiny when removed from the context of the records and merchandise it was designed for? It’s a nice dream, but nope,” while The Independent called the exhibition “…fascinating, and not just for Radiohead fans but for anyone intrigued by the interweaving of sonic and visual art forms.” The show largely consisted of paintings and prints created by Yorke and Donwood for Radiohead’s album and singles covers, interspersed with a healthy dose of merchandise. All this was catnip for Radiohead fans, and demand for tickets was so high that the exhibition was extended to cope with the numbers.

Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

Radiohead is one of the biggest bands on the planet right now, and the clamor around Yorke’s exhibition illustrates how acclaimed musicians occupy a unique position when they enter the world of fine art. Full-time fine artists need to build a following—especially in the social media age—and wangle their way into curators’ affections. But, for someone like Yorke, the audience for their artwork is readymade: diehard fans........

© Observer