Blag #8
172 x 250 mm, 84 pages (plus fold-out insert)
Spain (English-language)
Biannual
First published 2022
Editor: Sam Roberts
Design: UTILE Studio
‘Adventures in sign painting’
Exploring sign painting craft, community, and culture, BLAG (or Better Letters Magazine) is a publication dedicated to the craft and all that exists around it, examining contemporary subcultures and communities while also reflecting upon its rich history. Its content spans both time and space, with contributions from several countries and five continents.
Books are the central theme of this Winter 2025 issue, which as per usual whisks readers across the globe, with visits to Lamu in Kenya, Seoul in South Korea, and Hong Kong. This edition also introduces us to five contemporary artists that have chosen to make the art of sign painting a core pillar of their practice—from oil painter Imogen Hawgood’s incorporation of LA-inspired cinematic signage into her distinctly British landscapes, to Katy V. Meehan’s Indian ink calls to action, referencing the vibrant design language of the mid-century. All this alongside an expanded ‘Book Club’ segment—featuring a review of Doyle David Butler’s new book and Pintores de Letras by Nicole Castro and Rafael Hoffman—as well as, all the usual ‘Sundries’.
Plus, a limited-edition insert, tucked into the centre spread. This ‘how-to’ guide unfurls into a concertina-style poster featuring a skateboard decorated by Jill Strong, which also appears on the front cover.