Magda Archer Biography

Artist and illustrator Magda Archer creates kitsch and colourful artworks, inspired by her personal collection of popular paraphernalia. 

Adding fragments of sardonic text to cutesy cartoon imagery, Archer’s work is wry, playful, and utterly unconventional. Expect love-birds and teddy-bears alongside grumpy confessions – ‘My life is crap’ or ‘We’re in the shit’ – for works that are honest, relatable, and guaranteed to make you smile. 

Trained at Ravensbourne College of Art, Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art, Archer is known for her work on The Beatles Anthology in collaboration with Peter Quinnell. She was also the co-writer and illustrator for the Harry Hill Fun Book, and some of this work appeared in the exhibition ‘Peter Blake: About Collage’ at the Tate Liverpool in 2000. In 2012 Archer's paintings were used by Comme des Garcons for their Spring/Summer campaign and she recently collaborated with Marc Jacobs on a range of clothing which has been worn by Dua Lipa.