Dean Turner began with a list of 100 guitarists. By the time Dean Turner completed that list was reduced to 45 guitarists. Dean removed the other 55 from his list simply because he did not have enough space on the canvas to include more of the named artists; moreover, he did not want to make the faces too small to ensure they were recognisable.
This is the complete list of the guitarists whose faces made it into the final version of the ultimate guitarist reunion painting. And if you have stared at the famous guitarists painting, spotted 30 names and gotten stuck while recognising others, this is the list you were after.
Dean Turner began with a list of 100 guitarists. By the time he completed his concept drawing, his list was reduced to 45 guitarists! Dean removed the other 55 from his list simply because he didn’t have enough space on the canvas to include more of the named artists; moreover, he did not want to make the faces too small to ensure they were recognisable.
This is the complete list of the guitarists whose faces made it into the final version of the ultimate guitarist reunion painting. Furthermore, if you have stared at the famous guitarists painting, spotted 30 names and gotten stuck while recognising others, this is the list you were after.
All 45 Guitarists in the Ultimate Guitarist Reunion Painting
The list includes the representatives of blues right up to grunge. And here is the complete lineup.
The guitarists included in this painting are a good collaboration of guitarists who span across several genres of music, including heavy metal, rock, blues, soft rock, and even grunge.
The blues foundation (7): Robert Johnson, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Les Paul, B.B. King, Albert King, and Johnny Winter.
The British and Irish wave (16): Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Rory Gallagher, Mark Knopfler, Peter Frampton, Brian May, Tony Iommi, Gary Moore, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, George Harrison, Pete Townshend, and The Edge.
American rock and blues rock (9): Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh, Joe Perry, George Thorogood, Lenny Kravitz, and Prince.
Metal and shred (9): Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Slash, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Tom Morello.
Australia (2): Angus Young and Malcolm Young.
Grunge and garage (2): Kurt Cobain and Jack White.
Dean has written a longer piece on Randy Rhoads and why he earned his spot, which covers the two-minute audition that got him the Ozzy gig.
Nobody in the Painting Stands Next to Anybody by Accident
The positions are meaningful, and that is the one key feature that is missed by most viewers at first glance. Dean positioned each guitarist next to those who shared history together.
Take, for example, the top left corner. You see Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton hugging each other. They finished the same show in Alpine Valley back in August 1990, and just a few hours after that, Vaughan took the last place on the helicopter that crashed into the fog. Any guitar players would recognise that combination and stop in their tracks.
This principle is used all throughout the canvas. Angus and Malcolm Young are brothers and stay close to each other. Hetfield and Hammett are from the same band. Les Paul is close to those musicians who created their careers on the instrument called after him. Once you understand the principle, the guitar portrait artwork becomes a readable artwork.
Why Guitar Fans Keep Coming Back to This One
Recognition is the reason. Most guitar wall art gives you one player, usually a stage photo you have already seen. This gives you 45, and every viewer finds a different favorite first. As music-themed home decor goes, it earns its wall space by starting arguments /(conversations)
Steve Vai got his own copy and signed one for Dean, writing, "This is so great! Thank you for including me in your art!" That reaction repeats in living rooms. Guests walk up close, start naming faces (and argue about who got left out), and go on to recall their own experience they hold close - Whether it be a song, a moment in time, the first album they bought, a concert they attended, or even lyrics that resonated with them. The beauty of this collaboration is the way it's able to pull people together, which is the experience Dean intended for his fans.
If you want to test yourself before you buy, Dean built a 45-question guitarist quiz using the faces from the painting. Most players who think they know their history get humbled somewhere around the blues section.
Scott, who runs Dean’s online marketing, has recently built a 45-question guitarist quiz using the faces from the painting. Scott’s shared passion for music inspired the quiz, along with the endless hours he spent responding to online customer comments and questions. He felt there was a community of other music lovers who would love the challenge. Most players who think they know their history usually get humbled somewhere around the blues section.
What You Get When You Buy the Canvas
The original is an acrylic painting close to ten feet wide, and every print comes from a commercial scan of it. Dean spent six months planning the composition and another six months painting it across 2018 and 2019.
Each framed canvas wall art piece includes:
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Premium poly-cotton canvas that resists UV fading and water
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A black floating frame, shipped ready to hang
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An A4 map and printed names list, so guests can check their answers
- Free insured shipping worldwide, with stock held in both the USA and Australia
Shrinking the image from the ten-foot original is what sharpens the detail. At wall size, the brushwork on each face reads clearly, which is why this works as music-canvas wall art rather than a poster. Cheap musician wall art loses that detail at exactly the distance people stand to look.
The Faces You Cannot Name Are the Best Part
Get this guitarist canvas wall art for the artists that you admire today, and you'll end up having it for the artists you need to learn about. Dean has been talking about his next piece since ( the agonising name cull he had to do) 55 favourites did not make it, so take it for what it is – Volume One and not an entire story.
Check out the full list of artists and all available framing options from the Ultimate Guitarist Reunion at Dean Turner Art.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ultimate Guitarist Reunion painting?
The Ultimate Guitarist Reunion painting is an acrylic painting created by the Australian artist Dean Turner, which has 45 guitar heroes in one painting. The painting is nearly ten feet long and took a year to conceptualise and paint. It is part of Dean's Ultimate Reunion Series.
Which guitarists are featured in the Ultimate Guitarist Reunion?
The lineup includes Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Prince, Slash, Angus Young, Kurt Cobain, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Brian May, and 33 more. The full list is printed above and ships with every framed order.
How many guitar legends are in the Ultimate Guitarist Reunion painting?
Dean began with a shortlist of 100 names and cut it back to what the canvas could hold at full detail.
Where can I buy the Ultimate Guitarist Reunion canvas?
The Dean Turner Ultimate Guitarist Reunion can be bought straight from Dean Turner Art. The artwork is in stock both in the USA and Australia, with free international shipping and insurance for every order, and a money-back guarantee included.
Why is the Ultimate Guitarist Reunion popular among guitar fans?
It is because placement is a reward for knowing. Those who know about the past see the tour connections and friendships that are woven through the painting, creating more than a piece for the wall, but a dialogue. It also serves as a gift for guitar fans who have everything else.
What makes Dean Turner's guitar artwork unique?
Dean hand-paints every face in acrylic before any print exists, and he positions each player (musician) deliberately rather than filling space. That approach separates his music-inspired wall art from licensed photo prints, and it runs across his whole Ultimate Reunion Series collection.