RICK GRIFFIN 1994 – 1991
When you look back at photos of this era, the whole 1960s, and what was coming out of it, it’s pretty cool. Physcadelics and free love drove this era which of course influenced design and illustration. Some people saw this as a time to revolutionize or direct design and make a profit from it. What blazed out hippy doesn’t want some psychedelic art showcased in their bedroom for when their night of swinging commences.
Rick Griffin is one of those guys that made a profit and drove design far into the psychedelic realm. This guy was at the forefront of psychedelic poster design in the 1960s. Based off of the photo below, he really played that part.
Do you know what griffin has in common with my mum? Other than super long hair …they both were deadheads. Unlike my mum, who was a groupie and deadhead, Griffin also designed some of their best-known posters and record jackets.
He also was so involved in surf culture and brought the whole psychedelic design poster meets the surf. I think it helped make his art stand out among the many other artists that were taking advantage of the whole experiment with drugs until you see something in your painting kind phase. Most other designs stuck with florals and really trippy writing where he involved other sports culture into his work. Which is pretty groovy man.
References:
https://www.julienslive.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/56/lot/18449/