live at le bataclan
For this vinyl reissue of Lou Reed, John Cale & Nico: Live at Le Bataclan 1972, I designed a cover inspired by the raw, atmospheric sound that defined The Velvet Underground. The artwork channels the band’s minimalist edge and moody experimental energy, blending stark forms and gritty textures to echo the legendary performance and its place in music history.
process
To create the cover art, I started with a photograph of Lou Reed and edited it until his figure felt almost ghostlike—present, but barely there. I printed the image on a black-and-white laser printer to add gritty texture, then cut it into linear strips with an X-Acto knife. After arranging and assembling the sliced pieces into a new composition, I scanned the collage back into the computer to finalize the artwork, preserving its raw, tactile character.
inspiration
Inspired by 1960s Op-Art—especially the work of Bridget Riley—I created a grungy, distorted take on the movement to reflect The Velvet Underground’s droning guitars and dark, hypnotic atmosphere. The result is a cover that blends optical tension with raw texture, echoing the energy of Live at Le Bataclan 1972.
digital execution
To demonstrate how the design could live beyond the vinyl format, I translated the visual system into contemporary digital platforms. I adapted the artwork for use across digital platforms, showing how the gritty, deconstructed aesthetic scales seamlessly into current-day applications while maintaining its atmospheric impact.