Colossal David Bowie artwork created using 8,610 plectrums

He has been named the most influential British artist of the past 50 years

Joe Black's David Bowie artwork

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 11th Aug 2022

A colossal artwork of the late-great David Bowie has been created using 8,610 individually placed guitar plectrums.

Sky Arts commissioned London-based mixed media artist Joe Black to create the impressive artwork to coincide with them crowning David Bowie as the most influential British artist of the past 50 years.

The newly unveiled Sky Arts list recognises renowned artists across five categories - Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Music, and Film & TV – and the Top 50 was decided by 15 experts from across the arts industry.

David Bowie landed the number one spot ahead of the likes of Sir Steve McQueen, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Angela Carter and Michaela Coel.

Joe Black’s painstakingly created David Bowie artwork stands at 2 metres tall and features 8,610 plectrums.

Each plectrum features a cut out shape to symbolise all the artistic disciplines Bowie influenced, from music and film to art, performance and poetry.

The portrait will be donated by Sky Arts to a school in Bowie’s home town of Brixton in South London, celebrating the new generation of young artists who will be inspired by the music legend.

Joe Black's David Bowie artwork:

Joe Black's David Bowie artwork

“This portrait was created to celebrate David Bowie being named the most influential artist of the last 50 years,” Joe Black said. “His visual representation had a huge impact across all of the arts worldwide.

“The idea was to use thousands of specially designed plectrums with each design representing one of the five artistic areas of Bowie’s creative life and influences - music, film, fashion, literature and art.

“Bowie was a maverick and a global icon who initiated a new Bowie era in popular culture.”

Speaking about the Top 50 list, Chair of Judges Lauren Laverne, said: “I was honoured to be chosen to take part in this judging day for Sky Arts, as working with such a respected group of judges I knew their conversations would be fascinating… and they were.

“The judges took so much time and care with their scoring to ensure the Top 50, Top 20 and Top 10 lists were truly the best of the best in terms of influence, and the final list are artists that are so deserving of their places.

“David Bowie coming in at number one was the cherry on top of a brilliant judging process, and it was great to be a part of it.”