Basquiat

Charles Uzzell-Edwards, known as Pure Evil, was born in 1968 in Cardiff, Wales. From an early age, he nurtured a passion for art, encouraged by his father. After studying in London, he moved to San Francisco, where he spent ten years immersed in the Californian art scene. There, he came into contact with the world of graffiti, street style, and skateboard culture, influences that would become an integral part of his visual language.

During his stay in the United States, he was also influenced by the technological environment of Silicon Valley and American Pop Art, which inspired him to combine pop aesthetics with irony and social critique.

Return to London and Artistic Recognition

Back in the United Kingdom in 2000, Pure Evil began leaving his iconic tag — a rabbit with tusks — on London’s walls, marking his distinctive presence in the British street art scene. During this time, he connected with key figures of the new wave of English street art, including Banksy, D*Face, Ben Eine, and Paul Insect. Together, they participated in Santa’s Ghetto, a travelling gallery created to challenge the commercial logic of the art market and promote a freer, more accessible vision of urban creativity.

Style and Artistic Poetics

Pure Evil’s style merges urban energy and pop irony, blending elements of mass culture with a strong component of social commentary.

His most renowned body of work, the “Nightmare” series, portrays icons of pop culture and American cinema — from Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Kennedy — depicted with a distinctive black tear running down their faces. This element, now his visual signature, symbolizes the disillusionment and melancholy hidden behind the glamorous façade of fame and success.

By reinterpreting the legacy of Andy Warhol’s Pop Art, Pure Evil adds emotional and psychological depth, questioning the myths of consumerism and celebrity worship. Through screenprints, murals, and sculptures, he explores the relationship between the individual and the media, inviting viewers to reflect on the darker side of the entertainment culture.

Galleries, Exhibitions and Recognition

In 2007, Pure Evil opened his first gallery in Shoreditch, the London district known for its creative energy, which quickly became a reference point for emerging artists and street art enthusiasts. Six years later, he inaugurated a larger and more ambitious space, designed not only as an exhibition venue but also as a workshop for young international artists.

His works have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide — from the United States to Hong Kong, from Australia to Brazil — as part of a body of work that continues to evolve between street art, gallery practice, and digital culture.

With his ability to combine irony, social engagement, and aesthetic vision, Pure Evil is today regarded as one of the most distinctive and influential figures in contemporary British street art.

Pure Evil: Works for sale with prices and value from Wunderkammern

If you are interested in the artist, you can find Pure Evil’s works for sale online at our website.

If you would like to know about Pure Evil’s prices, value or which works will be exhibited, please do not hesitate to contact us by sending an e-mail to shop@wunderkammern.net.