David Bowie’s album cover incites strong reactions
In January 2013, graphic designer Jonathan Barnbrook created the artwork for The Next Day, David Bowie’s 25th album, featuring a striking design that overlayed a white square on the iconic cover of Bowie’s 1977 album, Heroes, generating significant controversy, reports BritPanorama.
Barnbrook recounted the night before the album’s release, expressing his concerns to Bowie, who reassured him it was the right move. “Even though I came up with the idea, I was having some second thoughts. He said, ‘Yes, don’t worry, it’s fine.'” The response to the artwork was mixed: while some fans appreciated the bold choice, many criticized it as sacrilege. Producer Tony Visconti even likened it to a joke. “There was a lot of criticism of it… I felt mortified that people were misunderstanding it, saying it took five minutes to do,” Barnbrook stated.
Inspired by Bowie sending him vintage photos, Barnbrook sought to subvert expectations of the artist’s image. “They see a picture of the artist, they listen to the music, and it confirms something in them. I didn’t want to give them that.” The backlash pushed him to justify his choices in a blog post. Bowie later advised Barnbrook, “You have to let people find their space within your work. If you overexplain things, there’s some magic that’s taken away.”
The public discourse surrounding the cover delighted Bowie, who remarked, “Gosh, isn’t it great people are talking about the album cover? Nobody has talked about one for years.” Today Barnbrook stands by his work, deeming it one of his most original ideas related to Bowie. “Of all of the David Bowie stuff I did, I think that’s the one with the most original idea in it,” he asserted.
Barnbrook, a respected figure in the British art and design scene, has collaborated with notable artists including Damien Hirst and Banksy. His long-standing partnership with Bowie spanned two decades, during which he designed covers for Bowie’s last four studio albums, including the Grammy-winning cover for Blackstar.
Continuing to engage with Bowie’s legacy, Barnbrook contributed to the multimedia exhibition David Bowie: You’re Not Alone, which runs until October at London’s Lightroom. While he expressed initial skepticism about the project, he acknowledged the quality of the team involved and noted, “It’s something quite emotional. It’s quite surprising.”
The designer’s reflections extend to the evolution of his work and Bowie’s influence, reaching back to the 90s when Barnbrook garnered attention for his innovative designs. “It was a great time for the country,” he said, reminiscing about the vibrant British art scene that paralleled his personal journey in graphic design.
His collaborations with Bowie flourished following a chance call to work on a book about Bowie’s wife, Iman. The two quickly discovered shared artistic philosophies that mirrored Bowie’s approach to avant-garde in mainstream music. In a notable moment, Bowie tasked Barnbrook with creating the artwork for Heathen with little lead time, revealing his relaxed nature as they worked together.
The designs of Reality and Blackstar offered contrasting reflections of Bowie’s artistic direction, with each cover intimately connected to the themes explored in the albums. Barnbrook noted that he was unaware of the depth of Bowie’s illness during the creation of Blackstar, emphasizing the changes in context following Bowie’s passing in January 2016.
With a Grammy award to affirm his contributions, Barnbrook recognizes the lasting significance of his work. “You do think, ‘Well, I can’t be that shit if I’ve won a Grammy,’” he remarked. As ‘David Bowie: You’re Not Alone’ continues to captivate audiences, Barnbrook’s legacy within the artistic sphere remains intertwined with that of the legendary musician.
