A-changin' times: The art of Martin Sharp in the 1960s

Abstract

Martin Sharp's art and design is increasingly seen as emblematic of the dynamic social changes and popular culture associated with London in the late 1960s. However his complex body of work, including illustrations, posters, album covers, collages and paintings, have yet to be fully explored or appreciated. This article surveys the development of Sharp's practice in the 1960s, tracing the recurring iconography that crosses from one medium to another. It argues that his work cannot be fully understood without reference to the entire spectrum of his design, illustration and art works and the context for their creation in Sydney and then London.