It is with great sadness to announce that our dear friend and fellow Stufisher, Katy Hepburn passed away on 26th July 2024.
Katy joined STUFISH as a full-time archivist in 1990, where she managed an extensive collection of historical images. Her responsibilities included overseeing and preserving Mark Fisher’s archive, supporting exhibitions of his work, and organizing the growing portfolio of STUFISH projects.
Katy’s collaboration with Mark and the studio began even earlier; she was initially commissioned to airbrush the long ceiling banners featuring crossed hammers for the Pink Floyd The Wall Tour in 1980.
From then on, Katy continued to collaborate with Mark and the studio, working on various projects including:
JMJ Concerts in China 1981 – Graphic design including pre–and post–production, merchandise, advertising, and stage set design.
Stevie Wonder, Hotter Than July Picnic, 1983 – painting the set to look like marble blocks
Barry Manilow in Blenheim Palace1983
JMJ – Zoolook 1984
Roger Waters – Radio Kaos 1985
Nelson Mandela’s Wembley Tribute 1990 – logo design
Amitabh Bachchan Live Wembley 1990 – Posters and Graphics
Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge 1992 – design for some of the Merchandise
The First Europeans Exhibition NH Museum 1992- Art directed the illustrations and helped to produce an A4 book for the Exhibition
Oasis at Knebworth 1994– Back projections
JMJ Tolerance Partie Socialist De France show 1995 – created the concept for the graphic projections
Himuro’s Diam Dust Show 1998 – Hand painted images used for back projections on the singer
The Golden Atrium, Macau, China 2007- For this project, Katy returned to STUFISH to create drawings for decorative panels that would be etched onto copper plates at ground level. These panels opened like petals, creating an opening through which another sculpture would rise.
Katy was an artist and designer who maintained her personal practice throughout her life, recently reconnecting with her roots as a painter and printmaker. She created a series of watercolours inspired by Hampstead Heath, followed by a collection of semi-surreal, spatial prints reminiscent of the early ’70s. She also revisited the silkscreens she first produced as a student at the Central School of Art in 1966. Collaborating with the Palazzo Morosina in Venice, she developed works like Blue Bend, Double Bend, Pink Point, and Circle 4, which captured the vibrant stripes and spheres of an era influenced by icons such as Mary Quant, NASA, Lou Reed, and Peter Blake. In 2023, she showcased this collection in a stunning exhibition in Notting Hill.
Katy was a compassionate, imaginative, and generous individual with a sharp artistic vision. She embraced new ideas and dedicated herself to helping others discover their own creativity.
As a valued member of the STUFISH Family, her deep understanding of our history provided us with continuity and guidance as we move forward.
Katy will be deeply missed.
