Inspired By.... Rick Griffin

Flying Eyeball Poster | 1968

Greatful Dead | Aoxomoxoa 1969

The Who concert poster | 1969

Rick Alden Griffin is an American artist who is most know for his psychedelic art in 1960’s. His work greatly reflects the hippie era as his art is inspired by psychedelic experiences and hallucinations known to follow the ingestion of psychoactive drugs such as LSD and psilocybin. The word "psychedelic" means "mind manifesting.” Psychedelic visual arts were a counterpart to psychedelic rock music, which was hugely popular with the hippies. His artwork consists of posters for concerts, album work and comics. Along with artists such as Alton Kelley and Wes Wilson, Rick became known as one of the "Big Five" of psychedelia. In 1967 they founded the Berkeley-Bonaparte distribution agency to produce and sell psychedelic poster art.

As a contributor to the underground comix movement, his work appeared regularly in Zap Comix. Underground comix often featured covers intended to appeal to the drug culture, and imitated LSD-inspired posters to increase sales. 

Rick Griffin produced his epic poster, 'The Flying Eyeball', in a burst of inspiration. The image has become the most recognisable image of the psychedelic 60s, being to Psychedelic Art. The Winged Eye symbol has its origins in antiquity, appearing in the art of the Egyptians and Assyrians. Rick was also inspired the esoteric traditions and origins of the Eye In The Sky, aka The Sun Disc or God's Eye, the all-seeing eye that burns through the clouds of Illusion. As a visual pun it also represents the self (the 'I'), as well as the personal power that comes with spiritual awareness. With added wings, it evokes the effect that LSD had on the visual field, part of the expanded state of consciousness that many were experiencing at that time. This reflects the spiritual thinking and lifestyle of the hippies. Jimi Hendrix was the supreme icon of psychedelic rock, Rick was commissioned to design this poster but it was a tall order to visually 'jam' with the Experience. At that time the posters were not just advertisements to sell tickets, they were considered a platform for expression as well.

Rick collaborated with many famous bands and artist of the hippie era. One of his most famous album cover was for the album Aoxomoxoa by Grateful Dead. The images he illustrates truly reflects what psychedelic rock is about. 

Rick also created posters to promote festivals, events and concerts. He produced many amazing posters for hugely famous bands such as The Who. His legendary artwork was a big contribution to the music industry.