Learn about the man who named a legendary punk band and gave them their iconic look.
Under the wide umbrella of ephemera, we’ve collected hundreds if not thousands of unique pieces of music history. One of the more interesting collections we’ve acquired are handbills and posters designed by Los Angeles-based artist Raymond Pettibon.
An Icon is Born
Born in 1957 in Tucson, Arizona, Pettibon (born Raymond Ginn) started his art career in the 1970s. In 1976, his brother Greg formed Black Flag (originally called Panic), and Pettibon joined as bass player for a short period. Pettibon also came up with the name Black Flag and designed the band’s logo. He became well-known in the Los Angeles punk rock community and eventually went on to work with many SST bands, including Minutemen and Sonic Youth.
A Punk Artist
Pettibon’s art mixes edginess with political wit, drawing from diverse cultural sources, particularly in America — including everything from Marcel Proust to the Bible. His cartoon-inspired ink drawings on unframed paper resemble fanzines and concert handbills, however they often contain subliminal narratives. Over time, Pettibon has been recognized as one of America’s prolific contemporary artists and was a recipient of the Whitney’s Bucksbaum award in 2004.
Our collection at Bynx includes Pettibon-drawn handbills and uncommon zines. His unique style pops off the page in each one and is reminiscent of the very subversiveness innate in punk music.
Browse our website to see some of the incredible Pettibon pieces we have in our collection!
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