Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.37.67
Object Name
Poster
Title
Occupy empty houses now!
Place
Paddington Printshop, London
People
Paddington Printshop
Date
1976
Description
Screenprinted poster, "Occupy empty houses now!" in large bubble writing at the bottom. The whole poster is a greyscale illustration of houses with windows and doors boarded up, and various 'Keep Out' signs and placards in the gardens, and barbed wire along the top of the walls and gates. In the background are taller buildings including "Offices to Let - Mammon House" and a chimney with "Plague Chemicals", beside a sign "Parasite Enterprises". Perched on the central boarded up house is an oversized bird, like a cormorant, with wings outspread. In its beak is a large sack with a £ pound sign on.
This poster was made by Paddington Printshop, a community graphic design and print workshop in West London, co-founded by John Phillips and Pippa Smith. Between 1975-1991, the centre printed over 400 designs for left-wing community organisations. These publicised local political campaigns such as housing rights and food co-ops, to social gatherings including play days, gardening clubs, gigs and festivals. Their do-it-yourself style was part of the proto-punk ethos.
Multimedia
