Last year, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, hosted “This Is What You Get,” an exhibition of photographs by artist Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead. Reaction from critics was mixed. The Guardian said of the artwork, “Is it worth considering when taken out of the context of the records and merchandise it's built for? A nice dream, but no,” while the Independent called the exhibition “…interesting, and not just for Radiohead fans but for anyone interested in the intersection of sonic and visual art forms.” The show consisted mainly of paintings and prints by Yorke and Donwood of Radiohead's album and single covers, combined with a healthy amount of merchandise. All of this was an uphill battle for Radiohead fans, and demand for tickets was so high that the show was extended to accommodate the numbers.
Radiohead are one of the biggest bands in the world right now, and the buzz surrounding the Yorke show shows how iconic artists occupy a unique position when entering the world of fine art. Full-time artists need to build a following—especially in the age of social media—and engage in fanfare. But, for someone like Yorke, the audience for their artwork is ready: diehard fans for serious collectors. Also, having a devoted following means that the power of opinion of art critics is irrelevant. Who needs a press conference when artists have legions of supporters eagerly awaiting their next move? But selling artwork to fans aside, would an artist's artwork be worth the scrutiny of a small group collector?
Generally, the more famous an artist is, the more collectible their artwork is. Take Bob Dylan, the mash-up singer/songwriter OG. Although he began making art in the 1960s, Dylan waited until 2008 to sell his work, and collectors tend to prefer his early pieces. In 2022, his Abstract Nudity an oil painting from the 1960s fetched $100,000 at auction, and in 2025 another oil, Amusement Park Alleyway (painted 2016), sold for $73,000. Former Ealing College of Art student Ronnie Wood uses his paintings to document his life as a member of the Rolling Stones. In 2023, the company he founded to sell his art reported sales of just under $2 million last year. 2013, York and Donwood painting Business School of the Dead it sold at a Bonhams auction for $7,500, but by 2025, Yorke paintings alone were fetching more than $10,000.
The founder of the White Stripes and solo rocker Jack White has also thrown his hat into the realm of fine art, creating 3D printed sculptures and sculptures from found objects. Like Yorke, he collaborates with a prominent artist—Damien Hirst—to bring his artwork to the masses and navigate the art world. Hirst hosted White's first exhibition at his Newport Street Gallery in London, and the two collaborated A SUPERNOVAa painted Eames chair (White was an upholsterer before the White Stripes took off). The piece is currently unpriced, but Hirst is selling similar painted chairs for $19,000.
Former Sonic Youth member and Otis Art Institute graduate Kim Gordon understands that making limited edition replicas offers cheaper alternatives for collectors than original artwork, and his signed prints typically sell for between $1,000 and $3,000. Bob Dylan and Ronnie Wood also sell signed prints of their work, with prices ranging from $700 for a signed Wood print to $8,000 for a signed Dylan. And, while high-ticket, one-off artworks are often found at auction houses and gallery dealers, these reproductions are often sold through artist websites and online stores. In 2024, Museum Voorlinden in the Netherlands is hosting “Devil: A Life,” an exhibition of 17 clay figures created by goth rock figurehead and trained ceramicist Nick Cave. These figures were never intended as commercials, and the museum acquired the entire set. However, Cave Things, Cave's website founded in 2020, is designed to sell affordable versions of his art and design work. Inside, Cave's doodles, photographs and humorous essays from his collection are transformed into collectibles and ephemera.
As for other big names in music, former bass player for The Clash, Paul Simonon, has largely quit his day job to become a full-time artist, and electronic music pioneer Brian Eno's investigation into the possibilities of digital and abstract printworks. Prices for Eno's prints hover around $2,000, while Simonon's oil paintings go for up to $13,000. Paul McCartney started painting in the 1980s and his artwork rarely comes on the market, though Pictures of a Womanpainted by all four members of The Beatles in 1966, sold for $1.2 million at auction in 2024. An avid art collector, David Bowie created paintings that pay homage to the European abstract expressionism evinced by Frank Auerbach and David Bomberg. Like McCartney, original Bowie artworks are rare—especially since his death in 2016—although in 2021, a lucky buyer bought a painting from him. DHead a $4 chain from a thrift store went on to sell for $87,000 at auction.
Regardless of luck, there are two levels of entry when it comes to finding original artwork by rock artists: the auction house and gallery route, and buying directly from the artist's website or online store. The former is, of course, more expensive, as the sum factors in administrative and dealer costs in addition to the selling price. This acquisition process works for the collector who wants to buy a piece that will increase in value over time—a prime example is Bob Dylan. Taking the latter option means cutting out the middleman, and it gives access to less expensive pieces. All in all, the advice from the late British artist Norman Ackroyd will always ring true. When the Royal Academy asked him what he thought about collecting art, he replied, “When it goes on the wall, can you live with it?” Sometimes, the question is, can you live without it—and if it isn't, that's when you really want something.
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