Lemmy - The Ace of Spades original collage 2009 by Pop Artist GRAY

Lemmy — The Ace of Spades, 2009

A striking original collage by Scottish pop artist GRAY, created in 2009 as a tribute to Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. The work centres on an oversized, painted and distressed Ace of Spades playing card — Lemmy's most iconic symbol — layered with a printed polaroid photograph of Lemmy as he appeared in 2009 and applied paper dots. Raw, irreverent, and unmistakably rock 'n' roll.

Presented in a white frame with antique white mount under glass, this is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece that brings together the energy of pop art and the mythology of rock music.

• Artist: GRAY
• Title: Lemmy, The Ace of Spades
• Medium: Original Collage
• Edition: 1/1 (unique)
• Dimensions: 20.5 × 13.5 cm (28 × 33 cm framed)
• Signed: GRAY 2009 to reverse

GRAY is a pop art–inspired artist and member of the Society of Scottish Artists, trained at the Glasgow School of Art.

British artist GRAY explores colour, elements of pop and image manipulation - dipping prints into paint, digitally re-colouring photographs and applying collage to Fuji Instax a bit like a Polaroid.

For his exhibition Mused he writes:

"I have always sketched pop stars. Growing up, music, celebrity and pop culture was everywhere - as it still is now.

Being inspired by artists and icons associated or involved in the pop art movement was unavoidable. Images such as Andy Warhol's depiction of Marilyn Munroe; David Hockney's Bigger Splash; and the general over-saturated use of colour is a constant thoughout pop-art imagery are what inspires me in all aspects of my creativity.

Inherent in pop art and my work is immediacy. The use of everyday products and quick manufacturing processes makes the subject matter accessible to all. I use lots of photographic media such as Fujifilm instanx film, as well as digital photography through to old / expired polaroids, which is a medium that I grew up using.

Having studied Graphic / Illustration Design at Cardonald College in Scotland, my practice developed into exploring pop art elements, colours and image manipulation. Dipping images in to paint; digital re-colouring photographs, applying collaged additions are recurring techniques, which allow me to emphasise characteristics and stories that take the image on a new journey and one which enables me to apply my own identity to which is becoming increasingly recognisable across my portfolio.

 I have exhibited in a number of group shows and galleries across the North West and also was a member of 'Road Studios' in Liverpool. Mused is my first solo exhibtion presenting both the sources of my inspiration to my latest works."

His first solo exhibition "Mused" took place at one of the best contemporary contemporary art galleries in Merseyside and the North West of England, Kirkby Gallery in Liverpool in 2022 - with works echoing a Warholian aesthetic.