Title: Artist: James Cauty (British, b. 1956)
Title: "Smiley Riot Shield - 2nd Class 200th Peterloo Massacre Anniversary.
This essential work of modern political satire is by a foundational figure in British counter-culture, renowned for his work with The KLF.
Law, Rebellion, and the Contested Smiley
The work explores the triple layer of satire behind the smiley symbol. It subverts the corporate-owned, legally-contested image originally created by Harvey Ball by placing it on a tool of state violence—the police riot shield. This merges the hedonistic rebellion of the Acid House era with a critique of the underlying violence of the establishment.
Medium: Fine art Giclée print made using high-quality light-fast inks on matt stock paper.
Dimensions: 30.5 cm x 33 cm.
Edition Details: Limited Edition of 200, hand-numbered in pencil.
Unique Stamping: Officially authenticated with two satirical rubber stamps: "i Protest The Cautese National Postal Disservice" (red ink) and "Limited Edition Stamp of Mass Destruction" (black ink).
Originally purchased from Cauty's spiritual home, The L-13 Light Industrial Workshop in London, circa 2019. The print is in excellent condition, having been stored flat from new. It is shipped via a fully insured and tracked service in gallery-grade protective packaging.
James Cauty: KLF, Outsider Art & The Cautese National Postal Disservice
The KLF & The K Foundation
James Cauty (b. 1956) is a definitive Outsider Artist and a pioneer of cultural sabotage. As one half of The KLF (The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu), Cauty dominated the global music charts before famously retiring from the industry at the height of their success. This transition led to the formation of the K Foundation, where in 1994, he and Bill Drummond burned one million pounds in cash on the island of Jura. This act remains the ultimate rejection of art as a commodity. Today, that legacy of "Active Resistance" continues through the People’s Pyramid—a monumental project built from "Bricks of Mu" in a process of Mu Mufication, managed by the L-13 Light Industrial Workshop.
The Aquarium Gallery & The Terrorist Gift Shop
In the early 2000s, Cauty’s work was centered around the Aquarium Gallery and his provocative Terrorist Gift Shop. These spaces served as the physical headquarters for his Blacksmoke Organisation and the CNPD (Cautese Nationál Postal Disservice). It was here that Cauty launched the legendary Stamps of Mass Destruction (the Queen in a gas mask), which triggered a high-profile legal battle with the Royal Mail. By selling "post-terrorist" souvenirs and subversive philatelic art, Cauty turned the traditional gallery model into a platform for civil unrest and satirical protest.
CNPD & The Critique of Consumerism
The CNPD became a vehicle for Cauty to mock official bureaucracy and the "throw-away" nature of modern society. In his Julie Andrews and Mary Poppins pieces, he famously juxtaposes icons of wholesome nostalgia with mountains of industrial waste. These works serve as a direct protest against the disposable consumerism culture, particularly the frenzy of over-consumption during the Christmas period. These projects laid the groundwork for his later work, including the Smiley Riot Shields and the ADP (Aftermath Dislocation Principle) featured at Banksy’s Dismaland.
Collecting James Cauty
At It’s Only Paper, we specialize in rare artifacts from the KLF, Blacksmoke, and Terrorist Gift Shop era. We treat every piece of James Cauty’s history with museum-grade archival care, providing secure worldwide shi
Title: Artist: James Cauty (British, b. 1956)
Title: "Smiley Riot Shield - 2nd Class 200th Peterloo Massacre Anniversary.
This essential work of modern political satire is by a foundational figure in British counter-culture, renowned for his work with The KLF.
Law, Rebellion, and the Contested Smiley
The work explores the triple layer of satire behind the smiley symbol. It subverts the corporate-owned, legally-contested image originally created by Harvey Ball by placing it on a tool of state violence—the police riot shield. This merges the hedonistic rebellion of the Acid House era with a critique of the underlying violence of the establishment.
Medium: Fine art Giclée print made using high-quality light-fast inks on matt stock paper.
Dimensions: 30.5 cm x 33 cm.
Edition Details: Limited Edition of 200, hand-numbered in pencil.
Unique Stamping: Officially authenticated with two satirical rubber stamps: "i Protest The Cautese National Postal Disservice" (red ink) and "Limited Edition Stamp of Mass Destruction" (black ink).
Originally purchased from Cauty's spiritual home, The L-13 Light Industrial Workshop in London, circa 2019. The print is in excellent condition, having been stored flat from new. It is shipped via a fully insured and tracked service in gallery-grade protective packaging.
James Cauty: KLF, Outsider Art & The Cautese National Postal Disservice
The KLF & The K Foundation
James Cauty (b. 1956) is a definitive Outsider Artist and a pioneer of cultural sabotage. As one half of The KLF (The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu), Cauty dominated the global music charts before famously retiring from the industry at the height of their success. This transition led to the formation of the K Foundation, where in 1994, he and Bill Drummond burned one million pounds in cash on the island of Jura. This act remains the ultimate rejection of art as a commodity. Today, that legacy of "Active Resistance" continues through the People’s Pyramid—a monumental project built from "Bricks of Mu" in a process of Mu Mufication, managed by the L-13 Light Industrial Workshop.
The Aquarium Gallery & The Terrorist Gift Shop
In the early 2000s, Cauty’s work was centered around the Aquarium Gallery and his provocative Terrorist Gift Shop. These spaces served as the physical headquarters for his Blacksmoke Organisation and the CNPD (Cautese Nationál Postal Disservice). It was here that Cauty launched the legendary Stamps of Mass Destruction (the Queen in a gas mask), which triggered a high-profile legal battle with the Royal Mail. By selling "post-terrorist" souvenirs and subversive philatelic art, Cauty turned the traditional gallery model into a platform for civil unrest and satirical protest.
CNPD & The Critique of Consumerism
The CNPD became a vehicle for Cauty to mock official bureaucracy and the "throw-away" nature of modern society. In his Julie Andrews and Mary Poppins pieces, he famously juxtaposes icons of wholesome nostalgia with mountains of industrial waste. These works serve as a direct protest against the disposable consumerism culture, particularly the frenzy of over-consumption during the Christmas period. These projects laid the groundwork for his later work, including the Smiley Riot Shields and the ADP (Aftermath Dislocation Principle) featured at Banksy’s Dismaland.
Collecting James Cauty
At It’s Only Paper, we specialize in rare artifacts from the KLF, Blacksmoke, and Terrorist Gift Shop era. We treat every piece of James Cauty’s history with museum-grade archival care, providing secure worldwide shi
Image 1 of 5
Image 2 of 5
Image 3 of 5
Image 4 of 5
Image 5 of 5
