Tripping the Art Fantastic is the next showstopper from legendary illustrator and graphic designer Alan Aldridge. Aldridge has had a nearly forty-year career with a body of work that includes works for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Elton John. Pretty impressive.
A double Grammy and Emmy nominee, Aldridge is perhaps best know for his work in the 1970s on the best selling, award winning children’s book The Butterfly Ball and The Grasshopper’s Feast and The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics which went on to sell over ten million copies.
Aldridge has secured his place as one of the world’s greatest illustrators who has burned his images into the world’s pop psyche with his album cover for Elton John’s “Captain Fantastic”, his iconic and controversial “Chelsea Girls” poster for the Warhol film, and his logos for both The Hard Rock Café and The House of Blues. Recent projects include the album design for the best selling Incubus album ‘Light Grenades’ and various other collaborations. The Design Museum of London recently presented a major retrospective of Aldridge’s work that drew tens of thousands of attendees and was the #1 museum attraction in London of 2008.
The April 29th event will feature fifty works including original paintings, photos and fine art prints. Eleven limited edition prints will make their world debut at the show and be available for purchase. In addition Aldridge will be signing copies of his latest book The Man With Kaleidoscope Eyes: The Art of Alan Aldridge (Abrams Publishing). This latest release is his definitive autobiography that charts his most extraordinary life and lends insight into his graphic genius through its dazzling imagery and captivating stories. His encounters with famous people along his journey include a drawing duel with Salvador Dali, interviewing Paul McCartney, bike riding with Steve McQueen. With illustrations and designs culled from all corners of his body of work, the book is a true visual feast from a man often regarded as the main exponent of psychedelic graphic style.
Tripping the Art Fantastic: The Illustrated Works of Alan Aldridge opens Wednesday, April 29 2009 and will remain on view through May 13, 2009 at Mr Musichead Gallery in Los Angeles.
More on Alan Aldridge at www.alanaldridge.net