Dayglo

Poly Styrene was a singer-songwriter, artist and post-modern style pioneer: a true punk icon. Yet beyond the rebel image lay a sharply perceptive pop satirist, whose vibrant, playful aesthetic stood in bold contrast to punk’s monochrome nihilism. Her extraordinary story is told by her daughter, singer-songwriter Celeste Bell, with writer Zoë Howe (author of Typical Girls? The Story of The Slits). From a mixed-race childhood in 1960s Brixton to fronting X-Ray Spex at the heart of the 1970s punk explosion, through spiritual discovery, single motherhood and struggles with mental health, this is a candid and compelling portrait of an artist who defied convention. Drawing on interviews with friends, collaborators and admirers – including Vivienne Westwood, Don Letts, Neneh Cherry and Thurston Moore – this richly illustrated oral history brings together rare photographs, ephemera and artwork to celebrate Poly Styrene’s enduring cultural impact and singular creative voice.