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Big Issue's most iconic moments explored in show

The Big Issue Composite image showing two front covers of The Big Issue magazine displayed side by side. The cover on the left features a black-and-white close-up portrait of George Michael against a red background, with the headline “George Michael World Exclusive”. The cover on the right features a black-and-white portrait of former England footballer Fara Williams, with the headline “From Homeless to Lioness”. Both covers are examples from The Big Issue's archive.The Big Issue
George Michael and Fara Williams are among those to have featured in the Big Issue

The most iconic front covers from the past 35 years of the Big Issue have gone on display as part of a new London exhibition exploring street culture.

Established in 1991 to support people experiencing homelessness, the magazine has featured many famous moments such as when George Michael chose an interview with the magazine to come out as gay.

The display forms part of a wider exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery called Beyond The Streets, with works by the likes of drum and bass pioneer Goldie and street artist Shepard Fairey also on show.

Katherine Benson, the gallery's exhibition programming manager, said the covers were a "documentary of our social history and our cultural history".

The Big Issue Front cover of The Big Issue magazine featuring a close-up portrait of the Dalai Lama wearing glasses and maroon and yellow robes against a bright yellow background. The cover headline reads: “I AM A REFUGEE”, with the subheading “The Dalai Lama interview”. The Big Issue logo appears at the top left of the cover.The Big Issue
The exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery lasts for six months
The Big Issue Front cover of The Big Issue magazine featuring Dot Cotton, a character from EastEnders, standing in a launderette. She is wearing a blue and white work uniform and holding a cigarette. The cover headline reads: “Oh I say, a house costs HOW much???” with smaller text below reading: “EastEnders at 40 in search of the REAL Albert Square”. The Big Issue logo appears at the top and bottom of the cover.The Big Issue
The Big Issue was launched in 1991

The Big Issue was set up by Lord Bird and Gordon Riddick to help give people experiencing poverty and homelessness in the UK "a hand up not a handout".

Over its 35-year history, the magazine has featured interviews with everyone from King Charles III and Andy Burnham, to Oasis and Lioness Fara Williams, who went from experiencing homelessness to playing for England.

Describing how the interview with George Michael came about, Lord Bird told BBC London the star "had not talked to the press in nine years" but had then approached the magazine.

"He said, 'look I'm gay and people keep hinting at me and I'm having to hide but I don't want to do that any more - and I've come to the Big Issue because I know you won't distort the story'."

The Big Issue Front cover of The Big Issue magazine featuring a black-and-white portrait of King Charles III wearing a pinstriped suit and looking over his shoulder towards the camera. The cover has a yellow border and the headline “WORLD EXCLUSIVE” across the top. Text on the cover reads: “THE KING by RANKIN for BIG ISSUE”, alongside a quote about the King's Coronation Food Project. The Big Issue logo appears prominently behind and below the portrait.The Big Issue
King Charles wrote a piece for the magazine to mark his 75th birthday
The Big Issue Front cover of The Big Issue magazine featuring a close-up portrait of Noel Gallagher with dark hair against a muted blue-green background. The cover's main headline reads “OASIS”, with a quote underneath: “The only things I was good at were drugs and guitar”. A smaller headline in the top left reads: “Bitch! Why women should never apologise”. The Big Issue masthead appears prominently across the top of the cover.The Big Issue
The magazine works on the idea of offering "a hand up not a handout"

The magazine operates by vendors buying copies for half the cover price and then selling them for the full price, keeping the difference.

More than 110,000 vendors have sold the magazine since 1991, with some 233 million copies sold in the UK in that time.

Magnus Arrevad A Big Issue vendor wearing a red tabard over a yellow hoodie and blue jeans sits on a curved wooden bench around a tree in an outdoor public square. The vendor is holding up a copy of The Big Issue magazine, which features a football-themed cover. Shopfronts, outdoor seating and a blurred figure can be seen in the background, while the vendor's official ID badge is attached to the front of the tabard.Magnus Arrevad
André Rostant's red tabard is included in the gallery's display

André Rostant, who has been selling the Big Issue in London for 14 years and whose red tabard is included in the display, said the magazine had provided him with a means to "have cash in your pocket" so you "don't have that thing towards the end of the month where you're skint".

"The thing about the Big Issue is it very clearly states that homelessness isn't helplessness," he added.

"We're doing something about homelessness, we're doing something to keep our situation stable and perhaps improve it."

The Big Issue Front cover of a copy of the Big Issue with names of people featured inside written in graffiti-style writing on a blue shutter backgroundThe Big Issue
Graffiti writer 10Foot took over the magazine for one issue
The Big Issue Front cover of The Big Issue magazine featuring Prince William and a Big Issue seller wearing red Big Issue vendor tabards standing outdoors in front of trees and greenery. The cover headline reads: “Why I sold The Big Issue” with the words “Prince William” underneath. Additional cover text includes: “When are we doing it again? Our man Dave”. The Big Issue logo appears prominently at the top and bottom of the cover.The Big Issue
Prince William has been spotted selling copies of the Big Issue in London in previous years

Beyond The Streets will be on show at the Saatchi Gallery until 5 May 2027.

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