Artist Chris Barker releases his final montage/homage of famous people who have passed per annum: 2025 work features Brigitte Bardot, Diane Keaton, Ace Frehley, Rob Reiner, Ozzy Osbourne
Every December since 2016, British artist Chris Barker has worked to piece together his homage to celebrities and beloved figures who have passed away in the previous 12 months. Icons are assembled in a grand montage inspired wholly by the cover artwork of The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. This year, apparently, will be Barker’s last homage – quite possibly because things are getting a little crowded on canvas.
Indeed, this year’s effort has been one of the most crowded ever, with 245 faces appearing, from the well-known — KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, actors Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, actress Diane Keaton, rocker Ozzy Osbourne, director Rob Reiner, Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson, and WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan — to the more obscure (eg: we in Australia would hardly recognise Clodagh Rodgers, a singer who appeared in 1971’s Irish Eurovision).
Other artists and prominent figures featured this year include singer Roberta Flack, actress Loni Anderson, Drag Race winner The Vivienne, rapper D’Angelo, funk star Sly Stone, and actress Brigitte Bardot who was added in at the last minute when most of the paint was already dry (well, decoupage glue already dry).
To mark his 10-year milestone and what will be the very last artwork, Barker is publishing a commemorative, case-bound book, and will also be presenting a special exhibition in London.
The book, at over 100-pages, celebrates a decade-long artistic journey, bringing together all ten images from the project for the very first time. Each image is accompanied by detailed keys identifying every individual depicted, as well as insightful commentary on the people and events that inspired them.
For the full list of who’s who in this year’s Sgt. Pepper obituary by Barker, zoom into the key chart, below.
ZOOM IN TO READ THE FULL LIST OF ARTISTS AND ICONS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY IN 2025:
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