James Cauty: Smiley Riot Shield – 3rd Class 200th Anniversary Peterloo Massacre.
This essential work of modern political satire is by James Cauty, a pioneer of British counter-culture and co-founder of The KLF. This specific print merges Cauty’s most iconic motif—the Smiley Riot Shield—with his subversive "Stamps of Mass Destruction" aesthetic.
Artist: James (Jimmy) Cauty (British, b. 1956)
Title: Smiley Riot Shield – 3rd Class (Peterloo Massacre 200th Anniversary)
Medium: Fine art Giclée print on archival matt stock paper.
Dimensions: 30.5 cm x 33 cm.
Edition: Limited edition of 46/100, Hand-numbered in pencil by the artist
Authentication: Features two satirical rubber stamps: "i Protest The Cautese National Postal Disservice" in red and "Limited Edition Stamp of Mass Destruction" in black.
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 MuMufication, 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 se
James Cauty: Smiley Riot Shield – 3rd Class 200th Anniversary Peterloo Massacre.
This essential work of modern political satire is by James Cauty, a pioneer of British counter-culture and co-founder of The KLF. This specific print merges Cauty’s most iconic motif—the Smiley Riot Shield—with his subversive "Stamps of Mass Destruction" aesthetic.
Artist: James (Jimmy) Cauty (British, b. 1956)
Title: Smiley Riot Shield – 3rd Class (Peterloo Massacre 200th Anniversary)
Medium: Fine art Giclée print on archival matt stock paper.
Dimensions: 30.5 cm x 33 cm.
Edition: Limited edition of 46/100, Hand-numbered in pencil by the artist
Authentication: Features two satirical rubber stamps: "i Protest The Cautese National Postal Disservice" in red and "Limited Edition Stamp of Mass Destruction" in black.
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 MuMufication, 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 se
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