Simon Claridge
Playboy | 2018

In 2016, the acclaimed British artist Simon Claridge teamed up with iconic global brand Playboy to launch a new collection in homage to some of the magazine’s most iconic cover images.

UK based artist Simon Claridge has garnered international acclaim for his fine art interpretations of iconic figures on silkscreen, imbued with his now signature diamond dust finish. Having been granted access to the Playboy archives – which hold every cover printed since the first issue in 1953 – Claridge chose six images dating from 1967-1982 to appear in the collection.

Each of the iconic covers was then transformed into a series of limited edition silkscreen prints – hand signed by the artist – and embellished with Claridge’s signature ‘diamond dust’ finish. The unique technique ensures that no two people will view Claridge’s art in the same way as light is reflected and refracted off the shiny particles of the ‘diamond dust’– an incredibly rare material that was handmade to order for this project.

Simon Claridge said: “Playboy, to me, represents so many firsts… It’s progressive, revolutionary…I cannot emphasise enough the reach and scope of Playboy’s influence. Andy Warhol is the primary influence in my career; he famously created a Playboy cover cementing the relationship between Playboy and Pop Art, and paving the way for artists like me. I am so proud that my diamond dust collection is to be part of Playboy's lineage in 20th century culture.”

The collection launched with a glittering VIP preview event at The Playboy Club in Mayfair.