Rebel yell! Art inspired by songs of rebellion

LA Artist Brayden Bugazzi uses his trademark collage style to capture the enigmatic and incomparable rebellious spirit of David Bowie.

Toronto artist Peter Horvath takes a deep dive into the iconography behind Childish Gambino's "This Is America".  With a creative eye on composition and a flare for storytelling, the artist assembles collage pieces that capture the mood and iconography of Gambino's rebellious world.  This includes spelling out the unforgettable lyric "Grandma told me get your money. This is America" 

Joan Jett shoved teenage female rebellion in the face of the conservative establishment with her hit "Cherry Bomb".  Toronto artist Eva Lewarne nails the mood and the tone on Jett's classic with her bold and vibrant acrylic on canvas original painting.  

Oregon based artist Shannon Carleen Knight uses the Bikini Kill lyric "In her hips there's revolution" as the inspiration for her tribute to the young female rebel-rocker.  Gone but not forgotten!  

Toronto artist Eva Lewarne uses her inimitable storytelling style and mesmerizing imagery to illustrate the defiant spirit of David Gilmore's words in his  post Roger Waters Pink Floyd song "Louder Than Words".

Best known for his surrealist  narratives on the album covers for the band Genesis, Paul Whitehead switches gears and mediums with this powerful statement about the nature of a modern revolution,   The lyric from Gil Scott-Heron's song rings more true today than it did when it was released in 1971.

LA artist Brayden Bugazzi tackles the classic Sex Pistols' song "God Save The Queen" with this grand whimsical collage masterpiece.  We bet you've never seen such a gangsta looking QE like this before (note the tear drop tattoos!). Long Live The Punk Queen! 

LA artist Alejandro Gehry is a punk at heart and he injects his rebellious energy into this tribute to The Clash song "Career Opportunities", featuring a young Joe Strummer wearing an Elvis "Heartbreak Hotel" t-shirt. 

The Sex Pistols are well represented  once again, this time with UK artist Niki Hare who hammers defiant energy into the line "I AM AN ANTI CHIRST. I AM ANARCHIST. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT BUT I KNOW HOW TO GET IT".  DESTROY.  

David Bowie 's "Rebel Rebel" is a cross generational anthem for rebellion that possesses the timeless relevance of all great songs. Case in point: "You've got your mother in a whirl
She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl." Shannon Carleen Knight uses her deep layering technique to capture the words, the icon, and the tone of Bowie's classic song.

Artist Shannon Carleen Knight's unique layering of color, words, and imagery creates a rich and complex composition to express  the spirit of a "Rebel Yell" as it explodes from Billy Idol's trademark growl-howl in his massive 1983 hit.    

Rage Against The Machine embodies the spirt of defiance and disruption with their hard-driving take-no-prisoners rhythms and melodies.  Add the powerful lyrics from the song "Killing In The Name Of" to the mix and now  it feels like a jackhammer hammering a Bowie knife into your brain.  In a good way of course.  UK artist Niki Hare just nails it with her black and white large format mixed media canvas.  No pulled punches here.  

Artist Peter Horvath  pays tribute to The Clash frontman and chief lyricist Joe Strummer in this large format collage and mixed media artwork.  Hidden treasures lie buried in the street art collage featuring iconic imagery from the groundbreaking punk rock era of London in the late 70's and early 80's. 

Folk singer Joni Mitchell is known for using her songs as a vehicle for social activism, but none hit as hard and bluntly as her 2006 song SHINE.  Artist Paul Whitehead, best known for his surrealist album covers for the band Genesis, exchanges his paintbrush and canvas for an explosive vest and a vintage alarm clock in his unnerving yet campy commentary on self destruction.  

Artist Alejandro Gehry draws inspiration from the powerful lyrics from a song by the 80's punk band Stiff Little Fingers.  The US vs THEM theme that is so familiar in rebel songs is re-energized in this original artwork using a strong, black, female figure.

French artist Lionel Dumas  is ready to rumble.  Using his trademark rich pigments and deeply muted sepia tones the artist's distressed canvas perfectly suits the rebellious vibe of his classic punk character.  Lyrics from The Clash song "White Riot" are the inspiration for this original artwork and serve as a call to action with fists raised, ready to strike. 

No one can accuse Lionel Dumas of not having a sense of humor.  In this tribute to Joan Jett's song about female rebellion, Dumas hopes to re-energize Jett's point of view by showing sweet and innocent Snow White smoking a joint.  "I don't give a damn about my reputation.  You are living in the past, it's a new generation".   You bet it is. 

Lou Reed's groovy song about sexual and gender liberation   was ahead of its time.  Finnish artist Matti Jarvinen Pietar uses his cubist style to express the rebelliousness of androgynous characters like Holly who "Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she".   

The last song George Harrison wrote before he died is a song called "Brainwashed" and it basically tells it like it is.  We're all fucking brainwashed! Legendary album cover artist Paul Whitehead uses his surrealist narrative style to capture all the manipulative vices and modern instruments of the big cranial scrub.  Great fun! 

Johnny Cash is the legendary "Man In Black" and French artist Lionel Dumas pays tribute to Johnny's song about why you'll never see him wear a suit of white.  With Dr. Freud and a pet raven lurking ominously in the distressed sepia background, this powerful, haunting painting captivates the imagination as it dips a toe into the dark waters of Johnny's psyche during troubled times when evil runs amok.