Loud, raw, and unapologetically authentic – Punk: Rage & Revolution was more than an exhibition. It was a full-on cultural revival, exploring the legacy of punk through the lens of rebellion, DIY creativity, and radical change.
52,000+ visitors | International press coverage
Co-produced with Soft Touch Arts and the team at Social Gallery CIC, the project brought together original punks, artists, designers, musicians and photographers – connecting generations through music, fashion, politics and protest. The result? An immersive, design-led exhibition that went on to win the National Lottery Project of the Year for England.
What began as a celebration of punk’s 1970s roots soon revealed an unexpected twist – Leicester was more central to the story than anyone knew. From Joe Orton’s blackly comic plays to the explosive fashion work of Roger K Burton and Stephane Raynor, the city’s creative legacy ran deep.
The exhibition spotlighted Leicester-born legends including photographers Steve Pyke MBE, Jack English, and the late David Parkinson, alongside iconic punk designer Juliana Sissons. Army photographer Wayne Large’s rarely-seen street images offered a raw look at Leicester’s young punks — including one unforgettable photo of punks chatting with two elderly women. The image sparked media interest, and the relatives of the women came to see their loved ones immortalised in print — a full-circle moment that hit national radio.
Opening in May 2023, the tartan ribbon was cut by Lora Logic of X-Ray Spex, launching an exhibition that saw more than 52,000 visitors over the summer. Guests came from across the UK and from 15+ countries, including Canada, the US and Australia.
Feedback was overwhelming. One visitor wrote, “I travelled back in time today,” while another said simply, “Better than the V&A.” The show made waves in BBC, ITV, The Independent, Radio 6 Music, Radio 4, Huck Magazine, Punktuation, and countless podcasts and blogs.
The creative direction matched the punk spirit – bold, raw, and brilliantly defiant. The layout featured 70s TVs, breeze blocks, galvanised piping and stage-style platforms built from pallets and scaffolding. Walls were scrawled with slogans, and areas were dressed with signs from cult stores like SEX and BOY, plus original museum cases reimagined with punk attitude.
The centrepiece was a 7-metre mural by Jamie Reid, the iconic artist and designer behind the Sex Pistols’ visual identity. The collage of slogans, paint, symbols and protest materials became a focal point – a visual riot that embodied the heart of punk. Jamie sadly passed away just before the exhibition closed, giving the work even more resonance.
The space also showcased original Vivienne Westwood garments (the first retrospective since her death), newly unearthed photos of The Clash at De Montfort Hall, and a rich collection of fanzines, posters, vinyl, zines, badges and handwritten lyrics.
Community was at the heart of Punk: Rage & Revolution. Partnering with Soft Touch Arts, the project empowered nearly 100 young people from underrepresented backgrounds to explore punk values and create their own responses – which were showcased in a sister exhibition at Soft Touch’s gallery space.
The exhibition became a place to meet, remember, and reconnect – not just a display, but a social movement. We collaborated with punk pioneers including John Cooper Clarke, Don Letts, Viv Albertine, Jenny Runacre, Graham Fellows (Jilted John), and Jeannette Lee, capturing voices that defined a generation – and continue to influence the next.
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