CHRIS BRACEY (1954–2014)
From God’s Own Junkyard: The Legacy of the ‘Neon Man’ and ‘Master of Glow’
Five Original Works. Never Before Released.
*EXCLUSIVE TO ARTISAN COLLECTIVE*
I first met Chris, Linda, and their sons Marcus and Matthew over 45 years ago as a child. I still remember watching Chris in the workshop - heating and bending tubes and turning glass and gas into a pure art form. It stuck with me, and to this day I’m still amazed by what can be created with a bit of imagination and a lot of hard work and skill. It’s exactly that spirit that runs through the incredible creations of our British artists - and one that Marcus, Matthew and Linda continue to honour through God’s Own Junkyard.
Although life took us all in different directions for many years, we recently reconnected - and what’s followed has been truly special. Through that renewed relationship, I’ve been honoured with the opportunity to present, for the very first time, five original neon works by Chris, drawn directly from the family’s private archive.
These pieces have never been publicly offered before. In a market where Chris’s work has featured at Bonhams, Phillips, and Forum Auctions, this marks a significant moment - the first time his neon art is being made available directly to collectors through an independent curated platform like Artisan Collective. It’s a rare opportunity, and one we’re incredibly proud to represent.
Chris wasn’t just a neon artist - he was the visual heartbeat of Soho, shaping its iconic nightlife through signage that lit up nearly every adult venue in the district. Later, his work transcended London, featuring in cult films like Blade Runner, Batman, Eyes Wide Shut, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Tomb Raider.
He collaborated with legendary directors like Tim Burton and Stanley Kubrick and fabricated Work No. 232 for Martin Creed’s Turner Prize-winning exhibition at Tate Britain. His collectors include Kate Moss, Jude Law, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Damien Hirst, and Grayson Perry, to name only a few.
Today, God’s Own Junkyard - the family’s studio in Walthamstow - holds the largest archive of neon art in Europe, with over 1,500 works. And now, five of the most personal pieces from that archive are being made available to the public for the very first time, exclusively through Artisan Collective.
Time Out Interview
A Moment with Chris...
This short film was recorded in 2013, a year before Chris sadly passed away. It’s a great little window into his world - in his own words, doing what he loved at God’s Own Junkyard.