Iconic Album Covers Reimagined - Isabelle Fitzgerald

Photography/ Mixed Media Elements
5 pieces / 12”x12”

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones, Back To Black by Amy Weinhouse, and Aladdin Sane by David Bowie are iconic albums known by most of the world. The interpretation of these album covers will depict a contemporary take on the overall aesthetic and lyrics of the original album.

Fitzgerald content

Collage of photographs of women, the name Amy placed with sticks and a rose laying on top

Amy Winehouse- Back to Black

Back to Black was a creative outlet written while suffering through a heartbreak. Through my images, I wanted to represent personal reflection, and the ideal of truly knowing and loving yourself when there is nothing, or no one, else there for you to lean on; this is specifically shown through the mirror image. I felt the need to continue with a simplistic aesthetic for the rendition of the vinyl cover; the two images pasted together embody the drastic change in emotions that are also represented within the lyrics of the songs.

Pop-art style artwork of girl with lightening strike behind her

David Bowie- Aladdin Sane (front)

This piece represents the “split down the middle” personality of the Aladdin Sane character reflecting Bowie's split feelings regarding his new found stardom. Bowie’s shift from Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane brought a new, creative sense of avant-garde and futurism to music. That is what I focused on in my photographs and multimedia elements. The drip on the front of the album was accentuated by adding glitter, and it allowed the photograph to have a more futuristic sentiment.

Pink cracked mirror

David Bowie- Aladdin Sane (back)

The cracked mirror, from the back of the album, illustrates the split emotions of Bowie. I used Photoshop to achieve the vibrant, and somewhat, unconventional look the album entails.

Grunge-look collage of film strip, people in jeans and flowers

Rolling Stones- Sticky Fingers (front)

This album focuses on relationships, and the affection and pain brought on by people who hurt you. Including the dead flowers on the front of the album symbolizes the relationship notion of once being lively to now filled with somber. The photographs represent the grunge-look from the original album cover.

Grunge-look collage of cards, people in jeans, flowers and a badge with the word Howdy

Rolling Stones- Sticky Fingers (back)

I created a jean pocket to add some texture and to allow my audience to recognize the back of the vinyl booklet compared to the frontal appearance of the subject. The color red was used to enhance the iconic red lips symbol of the Rolling Stones.

The original music doesn’t change, but the era in which the music is heard is constantly changing. Instead of a culture trying to change to fit the music, the music is being shifted and adapted to become attracted by wider and newer audiences. I wanted to recreate iconic, inspirational vinyl album covers with a modern twist by depicting a new aesthetic to fit the lyrics and theme of the original album, but also allowing the artistic meaning to shine through the photographs and multimedia elements.

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