Universal Music Group, the biggest music company in the world, has commissioned Manchester-based visual artist Alex Giles to create bespoke invitations and a custom installation for the Universal Music Group UK BRIT Awards after-party.
Taking place at Co-op Live on Saturday 28 February, the BRITs will be held in Manchester for the very first time.
For the Universal after-party, Giles has created a bright, eighties-inspired artwork, produced as a limited-edition invitation for those attending one of the most exclusive events on one of the biggest nights in music.
Born in rural Northumberland in the North East, Giles now lives and works in Manchester. After graduating in Fine Art from the University of Derby, he began a successful career in the film industry, eventually progressing to the role of production designer.
Although Giles never lost his ambition to create bold, vibrant paintings, finding the time and space to develop his practice proved challenging while working as a freelance filmmaker. In 2020, he made the decision to focus fully on painting, and momentum quickly followed. His debut solo exhibition, Eye Hurters, opened later that year at White Elephant Gallery in Lancashire, where the entire collection was acquired by the Deji Museum in Nanjing, China.
Since then, Giles has continued to exhibit and sell work consistently both locally and internationally. His fourth solo exhibition, Progressivism, opened in January 2024 at Casal Son Tugores in Alaró, Mallorca. Alongside these solo shows, he has built a strong global presence through group exhibitions in Berlin, Manchester, Galway and Hangzhou.
Giles is known for his use of big, bold shapes and powerful colour. His visually arresting work draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including artists such as Bridget Riley, Carmen Herrera and Victor Vasarely as key influences.
Culturally, Giles’ visual style is shaped by his love of the bright vibrant imagery he absorbed during his youth: Cartoons and comics, rave flyers, catalogues, billboards, and album artwork.
This distinctive partnership marks another milestone in Universal Music’s ongoing commitment to championing creative innovation at the highest level.
Giles said: “The first Brit Awards I clearly remember watching was in 1995. I was 12. Blur cleaned up with Parklife, and the next day I got the bus after school to my local Woolworths and bought a copy on cassette. That felt like the beginning of something for me. After that, the Brits became an important date in the calendar – first shaping my love of indie, and then electronic music, as artists like The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers began moving into the mainstream.
“I tried my hand at being in a few bands in my youth, but we were pretty terrible, and that dream was shelved fairly quickly. So being invited by Universal to create a visual for this year’s awards feels slightly surreal, like I’ve found a secret way to be part of something that meant a lot to me growing up.
“I think it’s incredible that Manchester has been chosen for the Brits this year, I was drawn to this ace city 17 years ago partly because of its amazing music scene. And the Brits have now followed my lead! I’m certain Manchester will do you proud.”
Hannah Lamb, Head of Events and Artist Relations at Universal Music Group UK, says, “We are delighted to be collaborating with Alex Giles in Manchester this year. His
bold style and dynamic lush use of colour perfectly captures the spirit of the weekend – a visual celebration!”
Giles follows in the footsteps of artists such Chila Kumari Burman MBE, Lakwena Maciver, Yinka Ilori, Ashton Attzs and Matt Dosa in collaborating with Universal Music Group UK on the BRIT Awards.
