MICHAEL MOEBIUS
There are many qualities or characteristics that can transform someone into an icon. The most transcendent quality of a modern icon is the ability of their persona to be remembered alongside their accomplishments. There is no shortage of extremely gifted and talented people today, but to have one’s character remembered at the same level of their work is what sets apart the icons. – MICHAEL MOEBIUS
What do the bubbles in your famous Pop! Pop! portraits symbolise?
‘For me, art doesn’t always need an intricately deep meaning. It can be beautiful when that is the case, but I find it beautiful when the art is simply portraying or evoking a feeling from the viewer.’
Michael Moebius is a German artist whose work blends classical influences with contemporary pop culture, resulting in his distinctive and playful Pop! Pop! series. Best known for his portraits of cultural icons—such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and The Beatles—blowing bubble gum, Moebius’s art captures the intersection of nostalgia, celebrity, and modern artistic expression.
Growing up in East Germany during the Cold War, Moebius’s exposure to Western culture was limited. However, this only fueled his fascination with what lay beyond the Berlin Wall. As he recalls, “When I was young, items from the West were simply not allowed and were considered to be Western propaganda. Even symbols such as Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Coca-Cola were considered a threat.” His artistic journey began in a rather unconventional setting: during his military service, he was tasked with painting murals in the gym, where he covertly introduced images of Western action heroes like Rambo and the Terminator—unknowingly celebrated by his commanders, who had no idea of the figures’ significance.
The fall of the Berlin Wall marked a turning point in Moebius’s life, allowing him to explore and immerse himself in the world of art beyond the Eastern Bloc. He studied fine art, eventually finding a niche in hyperrealism and pop art, inspired by the vibrancy and allure of Western media.
Shop His Artwork
Aladdin Sane
In a legal dispute that played out in the Berlin Federal Court, photographer Gavin Evans accused Moebius of infringing on his 1995 portrait of Bowie from The Session series. Evans initially pursued a case against Maddox Gallery, where Moebius’ work had been exhibited, before turning his legal focus directly on the artist. However, Moebius successfully defended his creation, with a three-judge panel ruling in his favour, stating that his painting was transformative and did not infringe upon Evans’ work. The ruling not only reinforced Moebius' artistic independence but also highlighted the ongoing tension between photography and reinterpretation in contemporary art.
Despite the legal battle, Aladdin Sane remains a testament to Bowie’s legacy—a fusion of rock ‘n’ roll mythology and modern-day pop culture. Moebius masterfully captures the Starman’s ability to transcend time, embodying both nostalgia and reinvention in a single, unforgettable image.
Michael Moebius' Aladdin Sane is a striking black-and-white portrait of David Bowie, infused with a contemporary pop twist. The legendary musician is depicted with his signature intensity, his monochrome face contrasted by a vivid pink bubble gum—a playful yet rebellious nod to his ever-evolving personas. Moebius' hyper-realistic technique captures Bowie’s defining features, including his famously mismatched eyes. While many believed he had heterochromia, his striking gaze was actually the result of a permanently dilated pupil from a teenage fight, adding an eerie, otherworldly quality to his image.
A gold lightning bolt necklace rests against his chest, referencing the iconic Aladdin Sane album cover, where Brian Duffy’s legendary photograph immortalized Bowie with a painted bolt slicing across his face. However, this artwork’s journey extended beyond artistic homage—it became the centre of a high-profile copyright battle.
All you need is gum
Michael Moebius’ All You Need Is Gum offers a sepia-toned, nostalgic reimagining of The Beatles, capturing them in their early years before the psychedelic revolution of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Dressed in their signature suits, ties, and crisp shirts, the Fab Four exude the clean-cut charm that defined their early career. But Moebius adds his signature twist—each Beatle has a large bubble gum balloon obscuring their mouth, playfully disrupting the seriousness of their polished image.
This visual contrast between the classic and the contemporary is a hallmark of Moebius' work. The sepia palette evokes a sense of history, a nod to the countless black-and-white photographs that documented The Beatles' rise to fame. Yet, the absurdity of the bubble gum injects a modern, rebellious energy, mirroring the band's own evolution from well-mannered pop stars to experimental rock icons who constantly defied expectations.
Like his other works featuring cultural legends, All You Need Is Gum blends homage with transformation, a creative approach that has sparked legal disputes in Moebius' career.