Storm Thorgerson (1944-2013) was a British artist, graphic designer and film maker who made some of the most iconic album covers, for bands including Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Storm Thorgerson’s art was primarily photographic and transformed Rock and Roll imagery.
Storm Thorgerson (1944-2013) was a British artist, graphic designer and film maker who made some of the most iconic album covers, for bands including Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Storm Thorgerson’s art was primarily photographic and transformed Rock and Roll imagery.
Thorgerson studied English and Philosophy at Leicester University. He went on to study an MA in Film and Television at the Royal College of Art, where he met Aubrey Powell, who he co-founded album art design firm Hipgnosis with. Hipgnosis was ground-breaking in its album artwork, and created designs for Genesis, Yes, 10cc, Bad Company and Paul McCartney & Wings. In 1987, Thorgerson set up his own design studio, Storm Studios, and began directing videos and TV documentaries. Thorgerson mixed surreal elements with reality and placed everyday objects out of their traditional context. By establishing objects outside of their normal reference points, often in vast landscapes, he made them appear awkward whilst also showcasing their innate beauty. Through techniques such as multiple exposures, he created surreal dislocations and disturbing juxtapositions. Thorgerson’s collaboration with Pink Floyd lasted for over 30 years and resulted in 16 album covers. The artwork for ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ is as celebrated as the album itself, which has spent 30 years in the UK album charts since its release in 1973. Thorgerson has also collaborated with various other musical artists, including Black Sabbath, The Alan Parsons Project, Audioslave, Biffy Clyro, The Cranberries, and Phish.
60.9 x 76.2 cm
Limited Edition of 120
64.7 x 83.8 cm
Limited Edition of 295
64.7 x 83.8 cm
Limited Edition of 295
“I like to mess with reality… to bend reality. Some of my works beg the question of - is it real or not?”
Thorgerson was inspired by Rene Magritte, Man Ray, Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and Juan Gris.
Thorgerson went to school with Pink Floyd founders Syd Barrett and Roger Waters in Cambridge.
Prog Magazine renamed its Grand Design Award, which Thorgerson won in 2012, after the designer in 2013.
We love how Thorgerson's surreal images make us question reality.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
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Storm Thorgerson, the man behind some of the most iconic images in the history of Rock and Roll, has died aged 69 after suffering from cancer. He was the genius sleeve designer behind the weird and wonderful images of Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Ian Dury and the Mars Volta. He will be remembered for his crucial role in creating Pink Floyd’s progressive aesthetic. Storm Thorgerson was an English artist, graphic designer, film maker and tennis fiend. He was born in Potters Bar, Middlesex on 28 February 1944 and attended Cambridgeshire High School for Boys. He graduated in English and Philosophy from ...