Jim Madison on Rat Fink, Collage Art, and the Joy of Making Things

Jim Madison is the kind of artist who sees an old magazine, a photocopier, and a pair of scissors and thinks, Yeah, let’s make something weird and wonderful. A printmaker and collage artist from Bowling Green, Kentucky, he’s got a thing for vintage ephemera, punk aesthetics, and pop culture oddities - all of which find their way into his bold, cut-and-paste creations.

In a full-circle moment of childhood obsession meeting adult reality, he teamed up with Ed Roth Studios to create officially licensed Rat Fink silkscreen prints, which is pretty much the dream if you grew up fascinated by hot rod artwork. On Patreon, he shares exclusive photocopy collages each month, because why keep all the fun to himself? His process is gloriously hands-on - flipping through stacks of old magazines, wrestling with copy machines, and generally making a mess in the name of art. And with a book on the way, he’s got plenty more up his sleeve.

Your collaboration with Ed Roth Studios has resulted in officially licensed Rat Fink silkscreen prints. Can you share how this partnership came about and what it means to you as an artist?

In 2019, there was an Ed Roth show at the National Corvette Museum in my hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky. That's where I met Ilene Roth. My uncles introduced me to Rat Fink when I was a kid, and I've always been intrigued. It's truly an honor.

Your Patreon offers subscribers exclusive monthly photocopy collages. What inspired you to create these unique pieces, and how do they differ from your other work?

At the time I started Patreon, I was working a full-time job and the shop was across town from my house. I wanted to make something at home in my spare time that didn't involve screen printing so much.

You've produced a variety of limited edition silkscreen prints. Could you walk us through your creative process, from conceptualisation to the final print?

I collect ephemera, so I'm constantly looking at images in old magazines. Then I take these images and manipulate them with the copy machine, then cut and paste them together. Once I have a solid image, I enlarge it on the copy machine and make films.

If your art could talk, what would it say?

Anybody can do this.

What's next for you, do you have any upcoming projects that you're able to share?

I have my first book coming out later this year.

And finally, a question from my five-year-old son: What's your favourite dinosaur?

Velociraptor.

You can follow Jim on Instagram @jimhmadison.

Interview by Johnny Larran, 2025.