Tilson was one of the leading figures of British Pop Art in the 1960s, Tilson was a proponent of political activism, sexual liberation and social change. He often sought to break pre-existing boundaries and set a wider scope on contemporary art. However, growing disillusioned with consumerism that pop art tended to highlight and the lack of political and societal change, Tilson moved from London to the countryside. When living in the countryside, Tilson’s subject matter saw a change to cultural history as a form of inspiration. Joe Tislon’s works are held in collections including the Tate Gallery, London; MoMA, New York and the Stedelijk, Amsterdam.