8166 - Jimi Hendrix Original 1967 ‘Fire’ Blacklight Serigraph by Larry Smart (38″ x 50″)

Jimi Hendrix Original 1967 ‘Fire’ Blacklight Serigraph by Larry Smart (38″ x 50″) Large-format 1967 color 38 x 50 serigraph of Jimi Hendrix, titled ‘Fire,’ by artist Larry Smart, printed on heavy stock with blacklight-reactive inks. The psychedelic portrait depicts Hendrix in vivid purple and fluorescent green against a metallic-gold background, outlined in red and green, with a band of multicolored flames rising across the lower portion. Rolled and in fine condition, with slight edgewear, trivial scuffing, and a couple of faint creases to the upper section. Note: A Library of Congress example of this print is cataloged as an English edition dated 1968, published by Dream Machine Communication Co., measuring approximately 47.7 x 36 inches, smaller than, and one year later than, the dimensions and date given here, suggesting more than one edition or printing of this design exists. Larry Smart's ‘Fire’ originated with a painting he made of Hendrix, which caught the attention of Michael Phillips of the London company ForPosters and led to a commission for a limited-edition screen print. Smart framed Hendrix in flames as a reference both to his 1967 song ‘Fire’ and to his celebrated practice of setting his guitar on fire during performances. The design formed part of a series of large-format musician portraits by Smart that also included John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and Frank Zappa. An example of ‘Fire’ was exhibited by the Victoria and Albert Museum in its 2016-2017 exhibition ‘You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-1970,’ and the work is represented in the collections of both the V&A and the Library of Congress.