Johnny Clarke — Portrait Poster

OVERVIEW

A limited print commissioned by Orisha in Session for the 18th anniversary of Soul Dread — one of Mexico City's most respected reggae and roots collectives — coinciding with a live appearance by Johnny Clarke, one of the defining voices of roots reggae since the mid-70s.

The piece was not designed as an event poster but as a collectible print — a tribute to the artist and the culture surrounding him.

THE PROCESS

The visual approach draws from the classic reggae poster tradition — engraved-style portrait illustration, kraft paper texture, barbed wire as a recurring motif in roots culture. The composition brings together multiple portraits of Clarke across different moments of his career, building a sense of the depth and longevity of an artist who has been a cornerstone of roots reggae for over fifty years.

The palette is deliberately restrained — black, green and red on aged paper — letting the illustration carry the weight without competing colour.