Interscope Recordsis launching its 30 th anniversary celebration in an imaginative manner with more than 50 artworks at theLos Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) called “Artists Inspired by Music: Interscope Reimagined.” This exhibition will feature new works by a diverse group of visual artists — including Cecily Brown,Julie Curtiss,Shepard Fairey,Lauren Halsey,Damien Hirst,Rashid Johnson,Takashi Murakami,Richard Prince,Ed Ruscha,Kehinde Wiley, and many others — that were inspired by the music of some of Interscope’s most influential recording artists, including 2Pac,Billie Eilish,Dr. Dre,Eminem,Gwen Stefani,Juice WRLD,Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga,Mary J. Blige,MGK,Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt,Olivia Rodrigo,Selena Gomez,Snoop DoggandU2and to name a few. A complete list of visual artists and the music creators they are paired with is below.
The first three artist images were revealed on Thursday:Kehinde Wiley has created a work inspired by Dr. Dre’s“The Chronic 2001”; Cecily Brown has created a work inspired by Billie Eilish’s EP“dont smile at me,” and Rashid Johnson has created a work inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s“Good Kid M.A.A.D. City”album.
The project was organized by Interscope Records co-founderJimmy Iovine, current chairmanJohn Janick and music executiveJosh Abraham, along with Interscope Vice ChairmanSteve Berman, who worked closely with all of the music and visual artists. The team also worked with LACMA Associate Curator of Decorative Arts and DesignStaci Steinberger to organize the exhibition.
“Interscope’s original mission was to find the most profound artists, empower their creativity and watch what happens,” said Iovine.“For the 30th, we wanted to continue that vision by assembling the most admired visual artists and empower them with that same creative license to honor the musical artists we have worked with over three decades.”
John Janick, Chairman, Interscope Geffen A&M commented: “From its earliest days, Interscope’s roster has included one-of-a-kind artists who clearly moved culture, and that’s something that we work to honor every single day in our current work at the label.In conversation with one of our label partnersJustin Lubliner, he sparked this idea. As Jimmy, Berm, Josh Abraham and I reached out to the visual artist community, we realized that having them create a lasting visual legacy that honors our artists’ music would be a hugely powerful tribute. The fact that so many of the world’s most acclaimedfine artists came together so eagerly to contribute to this project, and the fact that our own recording artists were as equally enthusiastic, is a deeply meaningful tribute to Interscope and one that we are immensely grateful for. Having these artworks debut at LACMA, one of the world’s most prestigious museums, is hugely gratifying for all of us who have been connected with Interscope over these past three decades.Sir Lucian Grainge’senduring support of Interscope’s unique voice and vision over the years has helped make it possible for Interscope to foster an ambitious artistic endeavor of this magnitude.”
Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group said, “I’m so proud that Interscope’s culture of boundless creativity provides its artists with the widest palette possible with which to express themselves.As a result, Interscope and its artists have not only consistently delivered some of the world’s most influential music, but also created groundbreaking visual media.It is fitting that the great work of Interscope’s artists be reinterpreted by leading visual artists in a way that celebrates their unique visions as well as three decades of this iconic label.”
“There is a long history of record album covers being designed by visual artists,” said LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg DirectorMichael Govan. “As an institution that has long explored the intersection of art and other sectors, including design and music, LACMA has been collecting record album designs over the past several years, and it’s inspiring to see these artists reinterpret three decades of iconic contemporary music.”
“Artists Inspired by Music: Interscope Reimagined”will be on view Sunday, January 30 through February 13, 2022, in LACMA’s Resnick Pavilion. Timed-entry general admission tickets will be released on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at 10 am on the museum’s website and will include access to Interscope Reimagined. Visit LACMA’s website for more information.
VISUAL ARTISTSMUSICAL ARTISTS
Adam PendletonDr. Dre –The Chronic
Amoako Boafo6LACK –FREE 6LACK
Anna ParkBillie Eilish –When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?
Anna WeyantGwen Stefani –The Sweet Escape
Burnt ToastTimbaland –Shock Value*
Burnt ToastN.E.R.D. –Seeing Sounds
Cecily BrownBillie Eilish-dont smile at me
Chloe WiseYeah Yeah Yeahs –It’s Blitz!
Damien HirstEminem – Entire Catalogue
Derrick AdamsMary J. Blige –The Breakthrough
Ed Ruscha2Pac –All Eyez On Me
Emily Mae SmithNine Inch Nails –Broken
Ferrari SheppardBlackstreet – “No Diggity”
Genesis TramaineSummer Walker –Over It
Henni AlftanOlivia Rodrigo –SOUR
Henry TaylorKendrick Lamar –DAMN.(“DNA”)
Hilary PecisSelena Gomez –Rare
Issy WoodGwen –Love. Angel. Music. Baby.(“Cool”)
Jenna GribbonLana Del Rey –Born To Die
Jennifer GuidiBLACKPINK –THE ALBUM
John CurrinU2 – “Beautiful Day”
Jordy KerwickMGK-Tickets to My Downfall(“My Bloody Valentine”)
Julie CurtissNo Doubt –Tragic Kingdom(“Just a Girl”)
KAWSDogg –Doggystyle
Kehinde WileyDr. Dre –The Chronic 2001
Lauren HalseyKendrick Lamar –To Pimp a Butterfly
Lisa YuskavageBillie Eilish –Happier Than Ever
Loie HollowellLady Gaga –Fame Monster
Lucy BullNo Doubt –Tragic Kingdom(“Spiderwebs”)
Mark QuinnMGK –Tickets to My Downfall
Matthew WongLana Del Rey –Paradise
Fulton Leroy Washington
AKA Mr. WashThe Game –The documentary
Nicolas PartyLady Gaga – Joanne
Nina Chanel Abney2Pac –The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
OSGEMEOSBlack Eyed Peas –The E.N.D.
Rashid JohnsonKendrick Lamar –Good Kid MAAD City
Raymond PettibonLana Del Rey –Norman Fucking Rockwell
Reggie Burrows HodgesKendrick Lamar –Good Kid M.A.A.D City(“Swimming Pools” (Drank))
Richard PrinceNine Inch Nails –The Downward Spiral
Sayre Gomez50 Cent –Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Shepard FaireyYeah Yeah Yeahs –Fever To Tell
Stanley WhitneyKendrick Lamar –To Pimp A Butterfly(“King Kunta”)
Takashi MurakamiJuice WRLD –Goodbye and Good Riddance
Titus KapharEve –Scorpion
Toyin Ojih OdutolaKendrick Lamar –DAMN.
Umar RashidTupac –Me Against The World
Will BooneHelmet –Meantime
* NFT
