Art History Festival: Cover Stories: Album Art as Art History
- Region: Online
- Type: Talk
- Cost: Free
Tuesday, 6 October 2026 18:30 – 19:30 pm
Online
From The Beatles and Bowie to Joy Division, New Order and The Smiths, some of music’s most memorable images have been inspired by paintings, photography and artistic movements from across history. Discover how artists and designers have borrowed from Renaissance painting, modern art, pop culture and fashion to create album covers that are artworks in their own right.
Whether you’re interested in music, art, photography or design, this talk will reveal the stories, influences and visual ideas behind some of the most iconic record sleeves ever made.
Mark Rawlinson is Associate Professor in Art History at the University of Nottingham and a specialist in modern and contemporary art, photography and visual culture. Join Mark as he explores the art-historical inspirations behind some of the most influential album covers of all time.