Pure Evil (Welsh)

Art

Who is painter and urban artist Pure Evil?

Pure Evil, also known as Charles Uzzell-Edwards, is an urban artist from England. He is the son of the famous British painter John Uzzell-Edwards. From an affluent family of prominent artists and saints that stretch back all the way to Sir Thomas More, Pure Evil bucks the trend set by many of his fellow urban artists with his strong background in traditional fine art painting. At the same time, he sees many urban artists falling into the same snobbery and gatekeeping culture that they criticize in “high art”.

What kind of art does Pure Evil make?

Pure Evil is primarily both a graffiti and gallery artist, though he has also contributed tracks for electronic music, video projects, and his own series of art books. Pure Evil often juxtaposes graffiti and his family history which includes eight Catholic saints. This seemingly incongruous pairing makes for art that is cheeky, irreverent, and hard to pin down. Often Pure Evil has used his art to contemplate the place of urban and graffiti art in a world that seeks to commercialize it. Unlike some of his contemporaries, Pure Evil doesn’t reject the commercial aspects of the art world. He has collaborated with several artists, including the Talking Heads in 2020.

His pieces are often psychedelic combinations of pop art, graffiti culture, and other general weirdness. He often explores these themes in his Nightmare Paintings series, which features famous pop culture icons bleeding from their eyes. Most recently Pure Evil utilized images of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince, Jackie Kennedy, and Audrey Hepburn -- with tropes like Mickey Mouse ears or the Union Jack superimposed onto their likenesses.

How did painter Pure Evil get started?

Pure Evil has a background in fashion and graphics. The son of famous artist, Charles Uzzell-Edwards, Pure Evil comes from a long line of famed British artists. Instead of leaning into this, Pure Evil chose to walk a different path. While a native of the UK, a move to California in the 1990s triggered Pure Evil’s choice to make street art. After a decade refining his craft in sunny Los Angeles, he returned to London and began painting his trademark character -- a vampiric-looking bunny all around the city. It was this move that has given him much of his fame. These days Pure Evil boasts over 50,000 followers on Instagram, routinely curates solo shows around the globe, and has been the recipient of numerous awards and residencies.

How much are Pure Evil paintings worth?

Pure Evil paintings can be worth anywhere from $1,000 to nearly $10,000 depending on the work. The most expensive Pure Evil painting ever sold at auction is Infinite Neon Butterfly (2012) which sold for $9,455 on January 22nd, 2013. The most expensive Pure Evil painting sold at a Heritage Auction is Floating Audrey (2018) from Pure Evil’s Nightmare Painting series for $2,000 on November 4th, 2019. It is signed and dated, with only mild edge wear. The piece itself is a great example of a desirable Pure Evil work - with bold colors, an iconic image of Audrey Hepburn, and his trademark tagging style displayed prominently.

Where to buy Pure Evil paintings for sale?

See works for sale below, including those available under the Make Offer to Owner program. Why buy from Heritage? Art buyers feel confident because our experts know the market and put careful valuations on artwork for sale. We make the bidding process easier to help you expand your art collection.

How to value Pure Evil paintings?

The best way to value art is to compare past auction prices for similar works. View past sale prices below. When you’re ready to sell, contact Heritage Auctions to request an auction estimate of the likely selling price at auction. If you need a formal written appraisal for estate planning or insurance, please contact our Appraisal Services Department.