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Minotaur
Vaughan Oliver
Vaughan is best known for the body of work he created for UK-based music label 4AD. The label’s identity was designed in 1980 and was maintained by Oliver and his collaborators for 25 years. This body of work included the now-classic record sleeves for influential rock band The Pixies. The five 4AD releases from The Pixies were reissued as both limited edition and deluxe edition collectors’ sets in 2009 entitled Minotaur. Vaughan was commissioned by Jeff Anderson, founder of A+R (Artist in Residence), to revisit the designs. Working with some of his students, and reunited with Pixies photographer Simon Larbalestier, Vaughan reinterpreted the artwork. Shown here are a few sample spreads from the oversized Minotaur hardcover book. The deluxe edition of the set includes all five Pixies studio albums – Come On Pilgrim (1987), Surfer Rosa (1988), Doolittle (1989), Bossanova (1990) and Trompe le Monde (1991) – on 24k layered CD and Blu-ray, with all the new artwork. Also included in the deluxe edition is a DVD of a 1991 performance at the Brixton Academy in London, the group’s videos, live tracks, and a 54-page book, all in a custom slipcase. The limited edition version includes everything in the deluxe edition as well as all five albums on 180g vinyl, a Giclée print of Vaughan’s artwork, and a 72-page hardcover book, in an oversized custom clamshell cover. Art direction and design: Vaughan Oliver; photos: Simon Larbalestier; contributing students from UCA, Epsom: Rosie Upright, Phoebe Richardson, Rose Thomas, Ben Ewing and Aaron Kitney.
Ballet Preljocaj
Vaughan Oliver
Identity for dance company Ballet Preljocaj from 1997. Art direction: Vaughan Oliver; design: Vaughan Oliver and Tim Vary.
Bossanova
Vaughan Oliver
Iconic front cover of the Pixies album Bossanova, released in 1990. Credits: Art direction and design: Vaughan Oliver; photo: Simon Larbalestier; modelmaking: Pirate; design assistance: Chris Bigg.
Modern Calendar ‘96
Vaughan Oliver
This calendar by v23 was conceived, art directed and designed by Vaughan Oliver. The cover photography is by Chris Bigg. Contributing photographers featured here on the top right are Michele Turriani (March; model: Maya), Chris Bigg (May) and Paul McMenamin (August).
Beggars Banquet
Vaughan Oliver
This identity from 2000 for record companies’ group Beggars Group was commissioned by Martin Mills. Art direction: Vaughan Oliver; modelmaking: Adrian Taylor; photos: Martin Andersen; design: Tim Vary.
Satellite
Vaughan Oliver
Commissioned by Julia Reed and Satellite Films, this identity for Satellite was created in 1994. Art direction: Vaughan Oliver; modelmaking: Adrian Taylor; photos: Tom Croes; design: Kees Hubers.