Martin Andersen & Chris Bigg– Ok Okapi
Pocko Gallery presents OK Okapi, a new exhibition that reunites two icons of music design—Martin Andersen and Chris Bigg—in a rich visual dialogue spanning analogue typography, experimental photography, and the deep textures of independent music culture.
Both artists forged their early paths under the legendary Vaughan Oliver at the design studio v23, working independently on some of the most memorable campaigns for 4AD and beyond. Their work has shaped the visual identities of artists such as The Breeders, Pixies, Lush, David Sylvian, and Kim Deal, among others.
OK Okapi brings their creative synergy to the foreground, blending Bigg’s tactile, mark-driven typographic approach with Andersen’s moody, often uncanny photography. Together, they revisit and reimagine decades of visual material—record sleeves, posters, videos, and ephemera—through new compositions, double exposures, and experimental treatments.
The exhibition is both a tribute to the power of music-inspired design and a testament to the ongoing vitality of analogue craft in a digital age. Visitors can explore a curated selection of prints, film stills, and rare outtakes—alongside limited edition artworks, a 112-page exhibition catalogue, and exclusive merchandise.
The private view on Thursday 15th May (6–10pm) features a DJ set by none other than Miki Berenyi, iconic vocalist of Lush, grounding the event firmly in the world these visuals helped to shape.
Exhibition Dates: 16 May – 11 June
Location: Pocko Gallery London
Private View: Thursday 15 May, 6–10pm
(DJ set by Miki Berenyi)
Martin Andersen
Martin Andersen is an internationally renowned art director, designer, and photographer with a distinguished career spanning over two decades.
He studied at the Royal College of Art, earning his MA in Visual Communication before embarking on a successful journey in the creative industry. Martin’s work has garnered over 20 international awards in film, animation, design, and photography, solidifying his reputation as a visionary in the field.
Early in his career, Martin collaborated with renowned designer Vaughan Oliver at v23, contributing to iconic imagery in contemporary popular music. This experience laid the foundation for Martin to establish his own award-winning studio, where he continued to push boundaries and innovate in visual storytelling. His directorial projects for Channel 4, Discovery Channel, and ITV, as well as music videos for acclaimed artists like The Breeders, Lush, Iceage, and Lowly, have captivated audiences worldwide.
In 2020, Martin published his first photography book, Can’t Smile Without You, which was featured on The BBC, ESPN, The Guardian, It’s Nice That, The Face, Creative Review, i-D, and the British Journal of Photography. He is currently working on two new photo books to be published in 2026.
Martin’s photographic work has been showcased in exhibitions and publications across the globe, from China and France to Japan, Mexico, the UK, and the USA. His academic pursuits have also been significant, with over 20 years of experience teaching Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, Fashion Styling, and Filmmaking at leading design schools in the UK, including Central Saint Martins and the University of Brighton, imparting his knowledge and expertise to aspiring creatives.
Martin has contributed to shaping the creative landscape and recognizing excellence in design.
His dedication to education, coupled with his passion for pushing boundaries and inspiring others, underscores Martin Andersen’s enduring impact on the field of design.
Chris Bigg
Chris Bigg has extensive experience in all areas of creative art directing including design, photography, typography, mark making and calligraphy. He has worked in all aspects of music packaging, creating cover art, special editions, posters, press ads, merchandising, production and moving image, as well as book and exhibition design.
Chris has worked extensively with the British independent record label 4AD, where, as Senior Designer and assistant to Vaughan Oliver, he produced iconic covers for bands such as The Breeders, Dead Can Dance, The Wolfgang Press, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Lush and Belly.
Since 2004, Chris has run his own studio. Recent projects include work as Graphic Designer for David Sylvian’s Samadhisound Record Label, including the 600-page publication Hypergraphia: Writings of David Sylvian 1980–2014 (2015), Doctors, Dissection and Resurrection Men at the Museum of London (2013), and Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russe at the V&A, London (2011). He has also created work for David Lynch, Scott Walker, Sinead O’Connor, Stefano Guzzetti, Nico Muhly, Aldous Harding, and Adrian Sherwood, among others.
His work has also featured in numerous publications, such as 100 Best Album Covers (1999), Letterwork: Creative Letterforms in Graphic Design (1995), A Century of Graphic Design (2001), Sketchbook: Conceptual Drawings from the World’s Most Influential Designers (2009), Design Genius: Ways and Workings of Creative Thinkers (2017), and Vaughan Oliver: Archives (2019).
Chris Bigg worked as a Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design in the School of Art at the University of Brighton. He has research interests in visualising music and sound. Experimentation and collaboration are essential to his working process, in which he sees sound and visuals as inseparable, with one informing the other.
