PAVEMENT LICKER

Back in 2003, graphic artist James-Lee Duffy and writer Josh Jones started a ‘zine. It promoted fresh talent alongside more established names in the underground art world and it was fiercely independent. Nearly 20 years later it’s still going strong and Pavement Licker has grown into something much bigger, while still retaining that original focus.

Known for their extensive contacts in the art world, Pavement Licker has continued to promote artists to a global audience through the ‘zine, collaborations and curated art shows. They even opened up the work of their favourite artists to a whole new audience on the labels of an eponymous beer created with the brewery Verdant. They’ve also worked with the Saatchi Gallery, collaborated on clothing lines, made more zines, created screen prints, raised lots of money for charity, and continue to do what they want. Successfully.

James-Lee Duffy

James-Lee Duffy is an Artist, Creative Director and co-founder of the cult zine Pavement Licker.

His work has been: banned by the London Underground; worn by supermodels; been exhibited in New York; London and Tokyo; read on the toilet; been drunk out of; written about; printed in coffee table books; scrawled on the walls throughout the Saatchi Gallery; tattooed on human skin; broadcast on the news; stuck on kid’s lunch boxes; displayed on Europe’s biggest billboard; collaborated with; taken over a clothing store and hung on collectors walls.

Duffy has worked and led creative agencies for over two decades. In 2010 he founded the We Are Shadows Studio and was part of the vanguard of the street art explosion in London at the beginning of this century under the name of ORKO.

With his painting, Duffy creates with an exuberant and explosive style, inspired by cartoon characters and fragmented childhood memories. His seemingly frenzied technique involves deliberate markings, mixing unorthodox skills and materials, bold gestures, rapid paint spattering and animated unconventional forms, which result in humorous, fleetingly familiar and unconventional imagery.

Web: jamesleeduffy.com

IG: @jamesleeduffy

Josh Jones

Josh Jones is an experienced UK-based culture journalist, editor, interviewer, and publisher. He’s worked with some of the biggest names in art and music and is currently focusing on making brilliant publications. He’s executive editor of MARVIN - high-end music and style magazine and the latest print publication from the founder of Raygun and Nylon. He’s also made books for Red Bull, the North Face, the Dismaland show program, a sold-out book featuring the mad folk he met at the top of Runyon Canyon, edits the annual magazine of the legendary Pikes Hotel, and, of course, Pavement Licker. 

He loves making things – especially ‘zines. He mainly wears a hat.

Web: joshjoshjones.co.uk

IG: @joshjoshjones