Barney Bubbles wasn’t just a designer – he was a visionary. His work brought colour, dynamism and a sense of bold expression to every project. He taught me that design isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about emotion, energy and creating something that speaks to the heart. Raissa Pardini
This is the first in an occasional series of contemporary practitioners providing their thoughts on the continuing relevance of the work of Barney Bubbles.
Concert poster
From Tuscany and based in London after sojourns in Berlin and Glasgow, Pardini’s work expresses vibrancy and wit, showcasing her considerable talents as a multi-disclipinary designer who is also a radical typographer and joyous creative director.
Concert poster
‘Coming from a tiny town where nothing much ever happened, I took my first solo trip to London at 14,’ said Pardini recently. ‘I quickly learned the art of sneaking into Trash and the indie clubs, full of makeup and nerves, hoping no one would clock my age. Back in Italy, all I could think about was being involved in music. I hustled my way into a local radio station, then hit the national ones, eventually landing my own show.
Record sleeves
‘I played bass with local pals in their garages, spinning records just to secure a couch to crash on after gigs—most of which I seemed to be attending alone. Getting my driver’s license was a game-changer, as it meant I no longer depended on others for rides to gigs. By then, I had built my own communities around different cities, and being part of the music scene became my lifeblood.
Concert poster
Magazine design
‘I was printing zines in my mom’s office, and that’s when I discovered my love for design too.’
Book designs
As her portfolio shows, Pardini’s designs are collected by the V&A and she has worked with major brands and bands from MTV and Nike to Blur and The Rolling Stones but retains a street-level engagement having DJed live and on radio stations, played in such groups as Loaded and collaborated with the amazing likes of Yassassin and Cumgirl8 (who she manages – see below for a great promo directed by Leah Hennessey featuring a Susan Sontag AI hologram – you have to sign in to watch it but it’s worth it).
The Barney Bubbles Estate’s Instagram feed has now gathered more than 5,000 followers and is collecting more every day.
Presenting a regularly updated and rich mix of design history and ephemera, @barney_bubbles_estate has great engagement. Followers keenly contributing comments and views on the examples of the late graphic artist’s exemplary body of work, from art student sketches to promo videos to rare posters to record sleeve extravaganzas.
The account also provides news on developments in the wild world of Barney Bubbles; soon there will be trails for a series of major forthcoming collaborations with contemporary artists and designers.
This is Barney Bubbles’ copy of one of the books which not only advanced graphic design practice in the 1960s but was also to leave a major mark on him and his future output.
Hundreds of record sleeves and pieces of ephemera designed by Barney Bubbles are currently on display in Sweden’s oldest record store, Burmans Musik in Umeå.
++ A Box of Bubbles is housed in this impressive 25 x 30cm casing decorated with one of Barney Bubbles’ most familiar artworks, for Ian Dury & The Blockheads’ 1978 single Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick ++
++ The box contains a copy of The Wild World of Barney Bubbles with a different hard cover jacket from the regular version ++
Very exciting – the first advance copy of A Box of Bubbles has arrived… and it looks amazing.
++ The boxed version of Wild World also has different end-papers based on patterns produced for Elvis Costello & The Attractions 1979 LP Armed Forces ++
Auction house Bonhams’ sale of ultra-rare and collectible original artworks by Barney Bubbles ends tomorrow at 12noon BST (British Summer Time).
++ Artwork for a poster for a 1979 Christmas concert at Birmingham International Arena. Barney Bubbles playfully inserted the name of his friend Cynthia Lole as the promoter ++
++ Barney Bubbles’ ‘Hamer And Sickle’ photography paste-up, 1979. Dimensions: 25.5 x 29.3cm ++
++ The four appearances by the logo on the inner and outer sleeves of Nick Lowe’s Labour of Lust LP ++
The photographic paste-up of one of Barney Bubbles’ most notable designs is among the late designer’s incredibly rare and highly collectible artworks included in the online sale currently being conducted by international auction house Bonhams.
The M!ss!ng L!nk is the title of a celebration of the life and work of Barney Bubbles at London’s Camden Art Centre on May 19.
There’ll be music, film and visual displays as well as an in-conversation with Paul Gorman, author of the forthcoming monograph of the late graphics genius, and the artist The Fandangoe Kid, whose work hinges on creativity as catharsis.
Welcome to the online celebration of the late graphic genius Barney Bubbles, spanning his extraordinary designs for music, including record sleeves, posters, advertising and ephemera, as well as art direction of books, the underground press and music magazines and his landmark promo videos, private paintings and furniture pieces.
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