Mark Pawson

Mark Pawson
Born1964 (1964)
Strood, Kent, England
Died2025 (aged 60–61)
Known forArtist's books, zines, mail art, DIY publishing
Notable workDie-Cut Plug Wiring Diagram Book

Mark Pawson (1964–2025) was a British artist known for his prolific output of handmade ephemera, artist's books, zines, badges, and prints. A self-described "image junkie"[1] and "photocopier fetishist," Pawson was a central figure in the UK’s DIY art scene and mail art movement, celebrated for his innovative use of low-tech printing methods and his commitment to accessible, affordable art.[2][3]

Early life and education

Mark Pawson was born in Strood, Kent, England. England, in 1964. His parents June Illingworth and David Pawson moved to Lymm, Cheshire, where he and his brother Daniel and sister Frances were raised. Pawson attended Lymm Grammar School before studying sociology at City University, graduating in 1986.[4] He moved to East London in 1982 and remained based there throughout his life.[5] Pawson did not attend art school, instead developing his practice independently through experimentation and participation in underground art networks.

Career

Pawson discovered mail art in 1980 at the age of 17.[6] He cited Ray Johnson as an influence on his deep involvement with the international mail art network.[7] He began producing artist's books and multiples in the mid-1980s. His work often incorporated recycled materials, rubber stamps, photocopies, and the Japanese Print Gocco system.[8] He was known for organizing “free-stuff” parties[9][10] and producing humorous, satirical stickers and badges.[11][5] The author of Badge Button Pin stated that:

"If it contained no work by Mark Pawson, the present volume would be like a book on Italian Renaissance art that makes no mention of Leonardo Da Vinci."[12]

Bookmaker Erica Van Horne stated:

"Over the last thirty years Simon [Cutts] and I did a huge number of book-making workshops. We also made numerous talks and presentations about Coracle books, and about producing and publishing books in general. We never did a presentation without mentioning Mark Pawson."[3]

Pawson's notable publications include:

  • Small Plastic Babies (1987)[9]
  • Mark's Little Book About Kinder Eggs (1989), which he self-published over 6,000 copies of.[5][13]
  • Eco-frenzy; recycling and ecology symbols (1992)
  • Clip-on Plastic Moustaches (1992)
  • Die-Cut Plug Wiring Diagram Book (1992)[14]
  • The Address Is The Art (2003) an artist's book comprising envelopes Pawson had received in the mail over the course of two decades.[11]

Pawson collaborated with brands such as Tatty Devine[15][16] and Levi’s Vintage Clothing,.[17] He supplied the cover illustration for the December 1996 issue of Creative Review and was the subject of a four page article.[18] From 1998 to 2012 he contributed a comics and zines review column for Variant magazine.[19]

In 2018, Pawson collaborated with Jess Baines and Tony Credland on "Doing it ourselves: countercultural and alternative radical publishing in the decade before punk." which was published as a chapter in an anthology of works about fanzines by Manchester University Press.[20]

Exhibitions

Pawson exhibited widely in the UK and internationally. Notable exhibitions include:

  • Untitled, an installation in which mail received by Pawson was pasted onto the walls of his London home from June 1987 - September 1988.[21]
  • A joint show with Ben Allen at Transmission Gallery in Glasgow (1990).[22]
  • No New Work a retrospective at Last Chance Saloon, London (1999)[23]
  • Metropolis Rise: New Art from London at 798 Space, Beijing (2006)[24]
  • Not Quite Disney at Jealous Gallery, London (2024)[25]

Legacy

Pawson's work is held in major collections including:

  • British Museum, London[26]
  • Tate Gallery Library, London[27]
  • National Art Library at the V&A[28]
  • University of the Arts, London[29]
  • Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead[30]
  • MoMA Library, New York[27]
  • Yale Center for British Art, Connecticut[31]
  • Private collection of Björk

Death

Mark Pawson died of a heart attack in March 2025 at the age of 60.[4] He was widely mourned in the art community, with tributes highlighting his generosity, humor, and influence on generations of DIY and mail artists.[9][32][3]

References

  1. ^ Noble, Ian; Bestley, Russell (25 January 2002). Experimental Layout - Design Fundamentals. RotoVision. ISBN 9782880466107.
  2. ^ Foakes, Kevin (4 March 2025). "RIP Mark Pawson". DJ Food. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c ""Announcements: Cover of this issue: Mark Pawson 1964 - 2025"" (PDF). Book Arts Newsletter (166): 68–71. April–June 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b Farhall, Mark (28 March 2025). "Mark Pawson obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Penney, Bridget; Holman, Paul (April 2025). "Mark Pawson obituary". Art Monthly (485): 22.
  6. ^ Pawson, Mark (Summer 2000). ""Growing Up In The Post Or Raised By Mail Artists"". New Observations (126).
  7. ^ Jones, Jonathan (20 January 1996). "A delivery of post modernism: mail art today". The Guardian International. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  8. ^ Bodman, Sarah (March 2000). "Books by artists". The Art Book. 7 (2): 25. doi:10.1111/1467-8357.00191.
  9. ^ a b c Gómez, Edward M. "A Fond Remembrance of Mark Pawson, an Artist With a Mischievous — and Deeply Humanistic — Vision". Brut Journal. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  10. ^ Szczelkun, Stefan (15 February 2012). "The Dark Arts". Mute. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  11. ^ a b Hoff, James (November–December 2006). ""James Hoff on Mark Pawson's The Address Is The Art"". Art on Paper. 11 (2): 37–38. JSTOR 24556455. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  12. ^ Lucas, Gavin (2007). Badge Button Pin. Laurence King Publishing. ISBN 978-1856694094.
  13. ^ Aitch, Iain (11 May 2005). "Hot stuff". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  14. ^ Tyson, Ian (1993). Facing the Page: British Artists' Books: a Survey 1983-1993. Estamp. pp. 58–59. ISBN 9781871831115.
  15. ^ Fox, Satu. "Art listings November 9-15 2009". Amelia's Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  16. ^ Lucas, Gavin (3 November 2008). "Give Me A Sign". Creative Review. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  17. ^ Pawson, Mark (April 2016). "Never throw anything away, EVER". Art Libraries Journal. 41 (2): 127–131. doi:10.1017/alj.2016.13.
  18. ^ "Pawson's Mark". Creative Review: 42–46. December 2006.
  19. ^ "Variant magazine archive". Variant. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  20. ^ The Subcultures Network (2018). Ripped, Torn and Cut: Pop, politics and punk fanzines from 1976 (1 ed.). Manchester University Press. pp. 15–38. ISBN 978-1-5261-2059-5.
  21. ^ "Illustrations: Poster for Untitled". Mail Art Chronology. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  22. ^ The 1990 Story: Glasgow Cultural Capital of Europe (PDF). Glasgow City Council. 1992. p. 16. ISBN 0-901557-77-3. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  23. ^ Phillpot, Clive (September 1999). "All Things Lowbrow". Art Monthly (229): 45.
  24. ^ "Metropolis Rise: New Art from London". e-flux. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  25. ^ Archer, Magda (14 March 2025). "Remembering Mark Pawson". Jealous Gallery. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Mark Pawson profile and related objects". British Museum. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Exhibition Mark Pawson - Unboxing 8 Jun 2013 – 30 Jun 2013". Art Rabbit. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Victoria and Albert Museum: Mark Pawson". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  29. ^ "University Archives and Special Collections Centre". UAL. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Baltic Archive". Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  31. ^ "YCBA Collections Online". Yale Center for British Art. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Mark Pawson - Mail Art Superstar". International Union of Mail Artists. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
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