Palace to Pavement A Journey of Queen Elizabeth II Pop Street Graffiti Art
, by Bobby Banks, 5 min reading time
From ornate palaces to grimy city walls, the image of Elizabeth II, Queen of England, has permeated various aspects of art and culture across the globe. A fascinating topic of discussion emerges when we take a closer look at how her iconic figure has become a staple motif within pop, street, and graffiti art, genres well-known for their vibrant subversion of cultural norms and institutional power structures.
Pop Art's Iconic Queen Elizabeth II
One of the first moments of intersection between Queen Elizabeth II and pop art dates back to the 1960s, an era characterized by an explosion of artistic counterculture. Renowned British artist Peter Blake used the Queen's image in his work, most notably in his pop art collage for the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. The cover included a colorful amalgamation of notable figures, among whom was the Queen herself, positioning her within the thriving popular culture of the time. In 1966, another artist, Gerald Laing, created a series of paintings titled 'Lincoln Convertible' in response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Among these was an image of Queen Elizabeth II in the same style, featuring her royal highness in bright hues and bold brush strokes, characteristic of pop art. This depiction of the Queen served as a stark contrast to the traditionally subdued and regal portrayals of the monarchy, encapsulating pop art's essence as it challenged the status quo.Andy Warhol and the Royal Fascination
No discussion of Queen Elizabeth II in pop art would be complete without a mention of the legendary Andy Warhol. Renowned for his daring, color-saturated depictions of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell's soup cans, Warhol extended his artistic interest to Queen Elizabeth II in his later career. He produced a portfolio of screen prints titled 'Reigning Queens' in 1985, which included sixteen brightly colored images of the monarch. Warhol's depiction of Queen Elizabeth II epitomizes the ethos of pop art, which aims to blur the lines between high art and popular culture. By placing the Queen, a symbol of traditional power and prestige, within the context of pop art, Warhol not only introduced her to a broader, more casual audience but also challenged the notions of royalty and celebrity, two seemingly distinct spheres that his art provocatively merged.Queen Elizabeth II Meets Street Art
Moving from the galleries to the streets, Queen Elizabeth II's image has been a compelling presence in street and graffiti art. Street art, known for its uncensored social commentaries, often draws on recognizable figures to make bold statements, and the Queen is no exception. Arguably, the most notorious graffiti artist to incorporate the Queen into his work is the elusive Banksy. His piece 'Turf War', spray-painted in a London warehouse in 2003, features Queen Elizabeth II as a stencil-style chimpanzee, a daring commentary on monarchy and power structures. This use of the Queen's image highlights Banksy's tendency to provoke thought and challenge societal norms.Smear Leader and the Neon Queen
Street artist Smear Leader is famous for his 'Neon Queen' series, wherein he presents Queen Elizabeth II in a distinctive neon pop style. His work involves creating vibrant digital prints of the Queen, often accompanied by contemporary elements, such as sunglasses or bubble gum. His portrayals, similar to Warhol's, bridge the gap between monarchy and popular culture, representing the Queen in an unconventional yet undeniably captivating manner.Graffiti Art: Making Monarchy Accessible
In the realm of graffiti art, the Queen's image serves to democratize the concept of monarchy by bringing it closer to the people, quite literally onto the walls that they walk past every day. Graffiti art has often been associated with rebellion and subversion, and the incorporation of Queen Elizabeth II’s image is no different. By using her likeness in this art form, artists engage in a dialogue with the public, seeking to question the monarchy’s role and relevance in modern society. One such graffiti piece that gained attention was created by artist Rich Simmons in 2012 to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Titled 'Jubilee', the mural depicts the Queen as a young woman wearing a Superman t-shirt with her shirt opened to reveal it, a la Clark Kent. This image, located on a street in London, captures the Queen in a playful, heroic light, arguably humanizing her and connecting her with the youth and vibrancy of contemporary culture.Pegasus and a Modern Fairy Tale
Another street artist known for his depictions of Queen Elizabeth II is Pegasus. His works are often characterized by a mix of fantasy and reality. In one of his famous pieces, the Queen is portrayed as Snow White, complete with the iconic red apple. This portrayal is particularly intriguing as it blends the fairy tale imagery with the real-life 'fairy tale' of royalty, highlighting the fantastical elements often associated with the monarchy.Enduring Legacy in Popular Art Forms
As we have seen, the image of Queen Elizabeth II has been both celebrated and critiqued through various artistic lenses in pop, street, and graffiti art. Whether it is Warhol's vivid screen prints, Banksy's daring stencil art, or Pegasus' fantasy-infused portrayals, artists have found in the Queen a potent symbol to engage with themes ranging from power and heritage to celebrity and modernity. These portrayals not only immortalize Queen Elizabeth II within the annals of art history but also reflect upon the evolving perceptions of the monarchy. Through these various depictions, we can see how Queen Elizabeth II’s image has been instrumental in providing artists with a canvas upon which to project their commentaries and interpretations. In summary, the infusion of Queen Elizabeth II's image in pop, street, and graffiti art reflects the monarchy's enduring influence on culture and society. These art forms, by their very nature, seek to challenge, subvert, and reinterpret the world around us. In incorporating the regal figure of Elizabeth II, they contribute to the ever-evolving narrative of the monarchy, capturing its complexities and inviting audiences to engage with it in new and unexpected ways. The diversity and creativity in these depictions are a testament to the indelible mark that Queen Elizabeth II has left on art and culture.
