Gallows Nottingham 2008 - Drew Millward

Artist: Drew Millward
Venue: Rock City, Nottingham, GBR
Date: 19 February 2008
Size: 16 x 16 inches
Edition: 73

Also available as an art print in an edition of 60.  Go to Expressobeans.com to find prints available for sale or trade and to learn more.

Drew Millward's work combines the soft, cuddly cuteness of Saturday morning cartoons with an innocently ominous foresight that paints the world with poisonous ice cream cones and sadistic teddy bears, all of which make it perfect for the pop-inflected hardcore punk of Gallows.  Only in Millward's world could Mickey Mouse tip the balance between dark and light in favor of the evil, corporate consumerism rather than the innocuous drone of multi-colored mechanical puppets singing about diversity and love in our small little world. 

There are a lot of gifted poster artists out there, but few whose style and voice are as distinctive as Millward's.  Aside from the fact that he co-opts a cultural icon to make his point, this may be his most poignant and personal piece, perfectly blending his cute, cuddly characters into a malevolent world that attempts to use their own innocence to coerce them into consumerist complicity.

Much of Drew's work is available at PostersandToys.com.
Listen to Gallows at Last.fm.