By Paul Gorman
224 pages, softcover, $45
Published by Thames & Hudson
thamesandhudson.com

The Wild World of Barney Bubbles by Paul Gorman takes the reader on a journey through the chromatic and complicated life of the book’s eponymous subject. During his lifetime, Bubbles—an English designer—worked with many British musicians in the 1970s and ’80s, including Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and the Damned. As he developed his oeuvre, the artist became known for his dynamic designs replete with colorful compositions that harkened back to his punk sensibilities and psychedelic influences, such as illustrators Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse. Wild World features several of Bubble’s drawings, such as a cover he created for the band Oora that depicts a kaleidoscopic medley of orange, blue and yellow shapes that seem to move, mimicking the group’s music. Seeing these pulsating patterns in context with Bubble’s biography helps the reader to deeper understand the artist’s craft: Anecdotes from the designer’s friends and family litter the book. One painter named Tom Pogson, who worked with Bubbles, said that he “never could say no [to assignments],” later adding that “I’ve never known anybody work as hard … there wasn’t a visible inch of studio floor—which was absolutely massive—because it was taken up by all the artwork.” These accounts are buttressed with commentary from designers Art Chantry, Clarita Hinojosa and Peter Saville as well as songwriter Billy Bragg. At times, the book could have integrated Bubble’s designs with the text more, but overall, it still provides a useful peek into the artist’s mind. —Isis Davis-Marks