With 'Blue Suede Shoes', Barker chose a fitting tribute to the Land of Stars and Stripes. The iconic lyrics of the legendary Carl Perkins / Elvis Presley Rock & Roll song embody Barker's sentiment upon first discovering the rebellious freedoms of 1960s America. Artistically, Barker felt accepted on the New York art scene, where he befriended his American Pop Art colleagues Jim Dine, Jasper Johns and Roy Lichtenstein. The American consumer culture which attracted Barker stood in stark contrast with his life in Post-War Britain. American mass culture remained a major inspiration throughout his career.

The work of Clive Barker is in museum collections worldwide including: National Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; British Museum, London; Tate, London; National Portrait Gallery, London; Museum für moderne Kunst, Frankfurt; Städtische Kunsthalle Mannheim; Museu Coleção Berardo, Lisbon; The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia Museum of Art.