Gauntlet Gallery — Jamie Reid Print Index
Vote For Light
Summary
Vote For Light is Jamie Reid's 2015 UK General Election special, an eight-colour screenprint on Somerset paper in a limited edition of 50, measuring 62 x 51 cm. The rallying slogan and its tiered pricing gag — a threatened increase, and a punitive surcharge for voting Conservative — fold Reid's politics directly into the artwork's own release.
Why It Matters
Reid treats the print's sale as an extension of its message. The escalating-price joke turns commerce into protest, a Situationist-flavored move that makes the buyer complicit in the political statement. Few artists so literally embed electoral commentary into the transaction itself.
Collector Perspective
Tied to a specific 2015 election moment, this is one of Reid's more topical and time-stamped editions, which sharpens its documentary value. The eight-colour build on Somerset paper signals a serious screenprint, and at 50 copies it is materially scarcer than his poster editions. Confirm signature and numbering.
Historical Context
Reid spent his career fusing art and agitation, from the Sex Pistols to decades of protest graphics. Vote For Light continues his tradition of election-cycle interventions, deploying a hopeful slogan against a barbed anti-Conservative punchline — a snapshot of British political mood rendered in his unmistakable graphic voice.
FAQ
What does the pricing text mean?
It is part of the artwork's gag: the price was set to rise on a fixed date, with a punitive surcharge threatened for voting in a Conservative government — protest embedded in the sale.
How is it printed?
As an eight-colour screenprint on Somerset paper.
How many were made?
A limited edition of 50.
What event is it tied to?
The 2015 UK General Election, released as Reid's 'Election Special.'
About the Artist
Jamie Reid (1947–2023) was a British artist best known for creating the visual identity of the Sex Pistols and the punk movement. His ransom-note lettering, cut-and-paste collage, and defaced imagery, including the safety-pinned Queen for "God Save the Queen" (1977), became defining icons of punk graphic design. Rooted in the Situationist and anarchist traditions, Reid produced record sleeves, posters, and political art across a five-decade career. His work is held in major collections and remains among the most recognizable and influential graphic art of the twentieth century.
Collecting Jamie Reid at Gauntlet Gallery
What should I look for when buying Jamie Reid work?
Distinguish original 1970s printed ephemera (record sleeves, posters, flyers) from later signed limited-edition prints and screen prints. Original period pieces are prized for their historical role but vary widely in condition; later editions are typically signed and numbered. Gauntlet Gallery documents the era, format, and edition details of each Reid piece so buyers understand exactly what they are acquiring.
How is a Jamie Reid piece authenticated?
Authentication relies on provenance, the hand signature on later editions, publisher or estate documentation, and comparison to known published works. Given the volume of reproductions of iconic punk imagery, distinguishing an authorized signed edition or original period print from a later poster reprint is essential. Gauntlet Gallery provides the supporting paperwork and provenance available for each work.
What drives value in Jamie Reid's work?
Historical significance is the primary driver, with original 1976–1978 punk-era material and Sex Pistols-related pieces commanding the strongest interest. Signature, edition size, condition, and direct ties to landmark releases all affect price. Documented original ephemera and signed low-edition prints in good condition hold value best.