This week we heard the sad news that Chris Bracey passed away aged 59 after losing his battle to cancer. Chris Bracey was the founder of Gods Own Junkyard, a known for designing iconic neon lights he transform neon signage into an art form. He became a well know British artist creating and designing some memorable props and signs for films such as Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, Tomb Raider, Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Batman franchise and many other features. The “Neon Man” was well-known in fashion and retail circles, creating catwalk and in-store displays for some of the UK’s biggest labels and department stores. For this Christmas, Chris designed and installed London’s largest neon display above Selfridges department store in Oxford Street.
We were lucky enough to work on a few projects with Chris. As you know we are not known as a healthcare design firm, but were given the challenge to transform a storefront of a London clinic. Creating a lure of a cool boutique with bright lighting, bold colours and eye-catching patterns. Chris was well known in Soho for designing most of the ‘Red Light District’ lights, helping to shape the sex industry as we know it today. We asked Chris to design a waiting room sign for the health clinic in Soho, the neon light was the perfect feature.
When we were asked by Jay-Z to rejuvenate his offices we needed a one of a kind neon signage and we knew exactly who to ask; Chris Bracey of God’s Own Junkyard; he provided us with a neon “Roc Nation” sign and a “ThreeSixZero” sign for Jay-Z’s record label.
Thank you for all your amazing ideas and hard work.
Chris Bracey, born December 25 1954, died November 1 2014
