Judy Blame, punk fashion icon, dies at 58
Judy Blame, originally named Chris Barnes, was born in Leatherhead, UK, in 1960 and passed away in London in 2018 at the age of 58. A pivotal figure in the punk scene, he was a stylist, jewelry designer, art director, and artist. At 17, he relocated to London, becoming a prominent nightlife personality alongside Leigh Bowery and Boy George. In 1986, he became part of The House of Beauty and Culture, a creative collective established by John Moore. Blame was known for crafting jewelry from everyday items like buttons, safety pins, and keys. His collaborations spanned designers like John Galliano and Rei Kawakubo, and he partnered with photographers such as Mark Lebon and Juergen Teller. Stefania Seoni penned his obituary.
Key facts
- Judy Blame died in 2018 in London at age 58.
- He was born Chris Barnes in Leatherhead, UK in 1960.
- He moved to London at 17 and became part of the nightclub scene with Leigh Bowery and Boy George.
- He joined The House of Beauty and Culture, founded in 1986 by John Moore.
- Blame created jewelry from found objects such as buttons, safety pins, medals, bottle caps, plastic bags, and keys.
- He collaborated with designers John Galliano, Rei Kawakubo, Gareth Pugh, Marc Jacobs, and Kim Jones.
- He worked with photographers Mark Lebon, Mark Mattock, Jean Baptiste Mondino, and Juergen Teller.
- He served as art director and image consultant for Neneh Cherry, Boy George, Massive Attack, Björk, and Kylie Minogue.
Entities
Artists
- Judy Blame
- Chris Barnes
- Leigh Bowery
- Boy George
- John Moore
- John Galliano
- Rei Kawakubo
- Gareth Pugh
- Marc Jacobs
- Kim Jones
- Mark Lebon
- Mark Mattock
- Jean Baptiste Mondino
- Juergen Teller
- Neneh Cherry
- Massive Attack
- Björk
- Kylie Minogue
- Stefania Seoni
Institutions
- The House of Beauty and Culture
- Comme des Garçons
- Louis Vuitton
- Artribune
Locations
- Leatherhead
- United Kingdom
- London