CHRIS BRACEY (BRITISH, 1954-2014) IN COLLABORATION WITH DAVID LACHAPELLE (AMERICAN, B. 1963)

Chris Bracey was born in London in 1954 and studied art at college before joining the family firm, Electro Signs.  Bracey went onto design the majority of neon signs that defined and lit up Soho in the 1970s.  He was commissioned to design the neon in the 1986 film Mona Lisa directed by Neil Jordan.  This led to further work on such seminal movies as Blade Runner, Eyes Wide Shut and Dark Knight.  Later in his career he created a monumental lightning bolt for the 2013 Bowie exhibition at the V&A as well as a neon 'Roc Nation' for Jay-Z's record label.  Bracey was an avid collector of his medium, housing hundreds of vintage neon signs in his studio gallery, God's Own Junkyard, in Walthamstow.  His patrons include Kate Moss, Jude Law, Elton John and Lady Gaga and in 2013 the artist known as 'Neon Man' held his first solo show 'I've Looked up to Heaven and been down to Hell' at Scream London.  Reflecting on his artistry Bracey observed, "Neon has a soul, it lives at night creating poetry with light, promising love in Soho or hot bagels all night."