Australian Pop Artist Martin Sharp Dies at 71
Martin Ritchie Sharp, the Australian pop artist, cartoonist, filmmaker, and art director for the anti-establishment underground magazine Oz, has died at age 71. Sharp co-founded the Australian and later London-based Oz magazine with Richard Neville and Richard Walsh. The publication gained notoriety when all three founders faced obscenity charges in London in 1971, though they were eventually acquitted. After relocating to London, Sharp became friends with musician Eric Clapton and contributed both lyrics and artwork for the band Cream. His artistic contributions included creating the cover artwork for Cream's albums Disraeli Gears in 1967 and Wheels of Fire in 1968.
Key facts
- Martin Sharp died at age 71
- He was an Australian pop artist, cartoonist, filmmaker, and art director
- He co-founded Oz magazine with Richard Neville and Richard Walsh
- Oz magazine was an anti-establishment underground publication
- Sharp, Neville, and Walsh were prosecuted for obscenity in London in 1971
- All three were acquitted of the obscenity charges
- Sharp became friends with Eric Clapton after moving to London
- He created cover artwork for Cream's albums Disraeli Gears (1967) and Wheels of Fire (1968)
Entities
Artists
- Martin Ritchie Sharp
- Eric Clapton
Institutions
- Oz
Locations
- Australia
- London
- United Kingdom