Brian Molko – Palmer Place, North Adelaide. 1998

A defining portrait of Placebo’s Brian Molko - captured at the height of the band’s rise and the dawn of a cultural shift.

Photographed for Rolling Stone Australia in 1998 during Placebo’s first Australian tour, this work distils the attitude and ambiguity that made Molko one of alternative music’s most magnetic figures. Their breakthrough album Without You I’m Nothing had just transformed Placebo from cult outsiders into global icons - their sound and image reshaping conversations around gender, identity and authenticity in late 90s music.

The portrait was created in my North Adelaide home - the same space that hosted the Kylie Minogue and Thom Yorke sessions. The band arrived unannounced, unconfirmed by the magazine or the label, and that sense of spontaneity drove the entire shoot. Molko brought a hospital gown - as you do - which found its perfect setting in my housemate’s bathroom. Later, nursing a hangover, he wandered out to find Brian quietly occupying his shower. From that absurd moment came something extraordinary - a portrait born of instinct, playfulness and defiance.

The resulting image captures Molko’s singular presence with an honesty that has lost none of its relevance. It embodies the raw theatricality and fearlessness that defined Placebo’s early years - qualities that continue to shape their legacy three decades on.

This limited edition marks the first time the original negative has been revisited since 1998. Hand-signed, numbered and printed to museum standards on archival Hahnemühle fine-art paper, each piece is produced for long-term preservation and display.

An investment-grade print for the collector of contemporary photographic portraiture - and a rare opportunity to own an authentic work that bridges Australian photographic history and the enduring European legacy of one of alternative culture’s defining voices.

Works from The Sellick Archive are held in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, the State Library of South Australia and other major institutions - a reflection of their cultural and historical significance.

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Edition Details

50 × 41.3 cm - Limited Edition of 20

The principal edition for serious collectors, offered in just 20 prints worldwide.

• Edition Size: 20 prints only
• Signature: Signed and numbered by Robin Sellick
• Image Size: 50 × 41.3 cm (on 60 × 50 cm archival Hahnemühle fine-art paper)
• Print Process: Archival pigment inks from the original 1998 negative
• Certificate: Certificate of Authenticity included

Framed: $3,800
Museum-quality hardwood frame with archival mount board and UV-protective glazing - handcrafted to conservation standards to ensure long-term stability and colour integrity. Each frame is produced using acid-free materials, sealed to protect against dust and humidity, and finished to gallery specifications for both private and institutional display. Ready to hang. External frame size approximately 78 × 68 cm.

Unframed: $1,800

Worldwide shipping available - packed to museum standards and fully insured.

Recorded in The Sellick Archive for authenticity and future provenance.

For framing details, delivery timelines or additional information, contact me →

Looking for a smaller format of this work?
Explore the Gift Collection Edition →

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Edition Policy

This Collector’s Edition is strictly limited to 20 prints at 50 × 41.3 cm. It will never be produced again in this size or format. Each work is formally registered in The Sellick Archive to guarantee authenticity and provenance.
View Collector’s Edition Standards →