Robert Beatty (artist)

Robert Beatty (/ˈbti/ BAY-tee;[1] born 1981)[2] is an American artist and musician based in Lexington, Kentucky,[3][4] best known for his noise band Hair Police, his solo project Three Legged Race, and most recently for his work designing album covers, including Burning Star Core's Challenger (2008), Tame Impala's Currents (2015),[5] and Kesha's Rainbow (2017).

Robert Beatty, artwork for Burning Star Core, Challenger

Early life

Robert Beatty was born in 1981 on a cattle and tobacco farm in rural Kentucky near Nicholasville—"one of the most beautiful places in the world," according to Beatty.[6][7] Growing up, he "constantly" drew, teaching himself[8] and taking inspiration from MTV's series Liquid Television, Terry Gilliam's animated work, and Mad.[5] He began to experiment with his family camcorder, exploring circuit bending and video feedback,[8] and during high school later started investigating and playing music with a friend (Beatty was fond of music from Warp Records) and designing concert posters.[9]

Beatty never attended art school (or college at all),[10][11][12] instead moving to Lexington after high school.[6] He also worked for a time at radio station WRFL,[13] and supported himself for years working at a gas station and as a janitor.[6]

Artwork

Beatty's graphic design work employs a distinctive style which has been called "trippy,"[14] "nostalgic,"[15] "psychedelic,"[11] "dark,"[16] and "mystifying;"[17] Beatty tries to evoke a "weird sense of wonder."[7] He began working by hand and today mostly uses Adobe Illustrator and an old version of Photoshop[12] running on a ten-year-old computer[5] to perform his "digital airbrushing,"[15] replicating and subverting traditional graphic design techniques using software.[18] However, Beatty says that his work often "goes back to drawing, because that's the simplest thing."[7] A prolific artist, Beatty has designed over 75 album covers;[2] after he decided to pursue creating art for other bands instead of just his own,[6] his album artwork rose in popularity with his covers for Challenger by Burning Star Core in 2008 and Tame Impala's Currents in 2015.[19][1][11]

In addition to album art, Beatty's illustration and design work has grown to include concert flyers,[20] magazines,[21] book covers,[22] fashion design,[23] music videos,[24] and news feature illustrations, with clients including Wired and the New York Times.[7][25][26] He has also released an artists' book, Floodgate Companion (2016), which Beatty "structured... more like an experimental film than a book." Beatty also designed the artwork for the soundtrack to the video game Thumper.[16] His video work has been featured at the Anthology Film Archives.[10] In 2019, Beatty created a lyric video for Cage the Elephant's song "House of Glass", from the album Social Cues.[4]

In 2018 he contributed "surreal"[27] art for use in fashion house Dries Van Noten's fall-winter 2018 collection,[23][28][29] with his work featured prominently in window displays at European retail locations.[5]

Beatty designed the cover art for historian and photographer Roger Steffens's anthology photobook The Family Acid: California (2019).[26][30] His work Place Holder appeared at 21c Museum Hotel Lexington in 2019–20,[5] and his concert posters were featured in the 2020 exhibit Cricket Press, John Lackey, and Robert Beatty: Gig Posters and Music Ephemera at the Living Arts and Science Center in Lexington.[31]

His influences include Cal Schenkel, Kenneth Anger, Piotr Kamler, Gary Panter,[1] Terry Gilliam,[11] and Lillian Schwartz.[12] Beatty also credits the film Fantastic Planet (1973).[5]

Music

Beatty performs electronic and noise music solo under his own name and formerly performed under the names Three Legged Race and Ed Sunspot,[32][33][34] co-founded Hair Police in 2001[35] (who went on to open for a Sonic Youth tour),[6] and is or has been a member of experimental and electronic bands Warmer Milks,[1] Burning Star Core, Eyes and Arms of Smoke,[3] and Lexington collective Resonant Hole.[32][11] He was also a member of Ulysses alongside Apples in Stereo members Robert Schneider and John Ferguson.[32] He records and produces music on old iPhones, stating he works with a "scavenger mentality" and "[doesn't] like to buy new things to make art or music with – I like to wait for things to come to me or to find things at thrift stores".[5]

In 2014 he released the album Soundtracks for Takeshi Murata under his own name.[36]

Beatty also masters music, including Public Housing's 2014 self-titled album.[35]

Discography

  • Three Legged Race – Persuasive Barrier (2012)[37]
  • Robert Beatty – Soundtracks for Takeshi Murata (2014)

Album art

Bibliography

  • Beatty, Robert (2016). Floodgate Companion. Portland, OR: Floating World Comics. ISBN 9781942801986. OCLC 1033512652.

References

  1. "I'm artist Robert Beatty AMA". reddit. September 13, 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. "Robert Beatty, Suspended Passthrough". Atlanta Contemporary. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. Leitko, Aaron (January 19, 2017). "Robert Beatty has become a one-man industry of psychedelic album art". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  4. Acevedo, Angelica (March 8, 2019). "Cage the Elephant Drop Thrilling New 'House of Glass' Song & Lyric Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  5. Brewer, Saraya; Lewis, Celeste (December 27, 2019). "Local Luminaries: Robert Beatty". Smiley Pete Publishing. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  6. Joyce, Colin (January 26, 2017). "Meet the Noise Musician Responsible for All Your Favorite Mind-Expanding Album Art". Vice. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  7. Baehr, Mike (January 30, 2017). "Art Gallery: Robert Beatty's Psychedelic, Retro-Futuristic Aesthetic". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. "Artist Spotlight | Robert Beatty". grafiktrafik. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  9. "Robert Beatty Interview". ISO50. May 1, 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  10. Shields, Chris (May 22, 2017). "Interview: Robert Beatty". Screen Slate. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  11. Kawaii, Keith (April 18, 2012). "Robert Beatty | Interview". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  12. Gosling, Emily (August 29, 2016). "The Joy of Robert Beatty's Pre-digital Graphic Art". AIGA. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  13. Umar, Akhira (February 28, 2018). "WRFL rides the wave of success into its 30th year". Kentucky Kernel. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  14. "Robert Beatty Artist Talk and Book Signing". 21c Lexington. October 3, 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  15. Erickson, Steve (May 25, 2017). "Let It Happen". Village Voice. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  16. Shamoon, Evan (September 29, 2016). "How Psychedelic Games 'Rez Infinite,' 'Thumper' Fuse Electronic Music With Virtual Reality". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  17. "GETTING WEIRD WITH ARTIST AND MUSICIAN ROBERT BEATTY". Flaunt. December 19, 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  18. "From Tame Impala to Three Legged Race: Robert Beatty is Finally Releasing an Art Book". Zurkonic. September 21, 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  19. Smart, Dan (March 31, 2017). "No Response Festival announces 2017 line-up — Graham Lambkin, Yoshi Wada, Hijokaidan, Jason Lescalleet, more — doesn't even notice your astounded response". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  20. Kludt, Amanda (September 7, 2017). "The Stories Behind Every 'Lucky Peach' Cover". Eater. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  21. "Holiday Gift Guide 2018: Illustrated Books". Publishers Weekly. October 12, 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  22. Chodha, Dal (January 19, 2018). "Dries Van Noten A/W 2018". Wallpaper. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  23. Bowe, Miels (March 21, 2017). "Wilco side project On Fillmore enlist artist Robert Beatty for trippy 'Jornada Inteira' video". Fact. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  24. "The Year in Illustration 2017". The New York Times. 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  25. Pescovitz, David (April 1, 2019). "The Family Acid: California, a far-out photo album from a very unconventional family". Boing Boing. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  26. DeLeon, Jian (January 19, 2018). "Dries Van Noten's Time-Traveling FW18 Men's Wardrobe". highsnobiety.com. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  27. García López, Daniel (September 27, 2018). "Vuelve lo introspectivo: los 'skaters' han empezado a ir a yoga" (in Spanish). El País. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  28. "Explosion de couleurs avec les imperméables aux motifs marbrés de Dries Van Noten". Numéro (in French). July 17, 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  29. "THE FAMILY ACID: CALIFORNIA". Ozma Records. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  30. "Virtual Art Gallery". Living Arts and Science Center. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  31. Bourton, Lucy (October 25, 2017). "A chat with Robert Beatty and Ariel Pink on their recent record sleeve collaboration". It's Nice That. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  32. Sienko, Chris (June 20, 2014). "Robert Beatty & Takeshi Murata Make Motorcycle-Riding Werewolves Cool Again @ Lampo". Gapers Block. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  33. P, M R (October 7, 2013). "Robert Beatty (Three Legged Race, Hair Police) to release Soundtracks for Takeshi Murata on Jason Lescalleet's Glistening Examples imprint". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  34. Nolan, Jim (July 29, 2014). "Public Housing". WVXU. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  35. Fleck, Kyle; Mudede, Charles; O, Kelly; Segal, Dave (January 15, 2014). "Album Reviews". The Stranger. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  36. Masters, Marc (January 7, 2013). "Three Legged Race: Persuasive Barrier Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  37. Masters, Marc. "Number 25". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  38. Beatty, Robert. "AMOR "Paradise/In Love An Arc"". Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  39. Beatty, Robert. "Robert Beatty album covers". Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  40. "Bedouine | Bedouine". Bandcamp. 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  41. "Bedouine "Bird Songs of a Killjoy"". Robert Beatty. 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  42. Scavo, Nick James (December 13, 2018). "2018: Against Worldbuilding". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  43. Blackwell, Matthew (2017). "C. Spencer Yeh - The RCA Mark II". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  44. Benton, William (August 25, 2012). "Cross's new 'Die Forever' a wonderfully unholy witch's brew of rock, punk, goth and sonic explorations". Insider Louisville. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  45. Essner, Dean (June 1, 2015). "Damaged Bug – Cold Hot Plumbs". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  46. Marsh, Calum (August 18, 2017). "Dent May: Across the Multiverse Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  47. Coultate, Aaron (October 3, 2016). "Don't DJ album, Musique Acephale, coming on Berceuse Heroique". RA News. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  48. "Don't DJ - Musique Acephale". Boomkat. 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  49. "The Top 50 Vinyl Album Cover Sleeves Of 2016". Radio X. 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  50. Hann, Michael (September 9, 2016). "Drugdealer: The End of Comedy review – delicate, post-Beatles comedown music". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  51. "Drugdealer: Raw Honey". TurntableLab.com. Retrieved 18 July 2019. Even Robert Beatty returns to the fold, turning in some splendid stately artwork.
  52. Hudson, Alex (May 22, 2012). "Caboladies' Eric Lanham Preps 'The Sincere Interruption' for Spectrum Spools". Exclaim. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  53. "Rev You: Eric Lanham – The Sincere Interruption LP". The Globule. August 24, 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  54. Bucciero, Joe (October 3, 2016). "Reviews | Forma | Physicalist". The Quietus. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  55. Farrar, Justin (October 15, 2016). "FORMA - Physicalist". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  56. "Black Equus | Captcha Records". Bandcamp. 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  57. "GA'AN Black Equus reviews". Prog Archives. 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  58. "TLR 030: hassara — backyard I-III CD". Three Lobed Recordings. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  59. "Opening Reception for Robert Beatty's art..." Idiot Glee. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  60. "Idiot Glee | Idiot Glee". Bandcamp. 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  61. McLaughlin, Aimée (February 28, 2018). "The record sleeve designers you need to know about". Design Week. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  62. "Major Stars "Roots of Confusion Seeds of Joy"". Robert Beatty. 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  63. Kaye, Ben (August 23, 2017). "Mister Heavenly reveal the Origins of their new song, "Hammer Drop": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  64. Arcand, Rob (March 23, 2019). "Sacred Bones Announces Mother Earth's Plantasia Vinyl Reissue". Spin. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  65. Rhoades, Lindsey (April 12, 2017). "Oneohtrix Point Never Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  66. Wuethrich, Matthew (June 27, 2012). "Dusted Reviews: Raglani - Husk". Dusted Magazine. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  67. Neyland, Nick (July 24, 2013). "Salvia Plath: The Bardo Story Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  68. Schonfeld, Zach (July 25, 2013). "Salvia Plath: The Bardo Story". Pop Matters. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  69. Minsker, Evan (June 19, 2019). "Sheer Mag Announce New Album and Tour, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  70. Cetin, Marissa (June 20, 2018). "Steve Hauschildt reveals first album for Ghostly International". RA News. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  71. Stickler, John (August 6, 2020). "Tim Heidecker Releases Title Track Of Upcoming Album 'Fear Of Death'". Stereoboard. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  72. Atkinson, Will (February 28, 2018). "With 'In a Poem Unlimited,' U.S. Girls makes disco fit for doomsday". The Chronicle. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  73. Cummings, Raymond (July 1, 2017). "White Suns: Psychic Drift Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  74. Gallacher, Alex (November 5, 2018). "William Tyler Announces New Studio Album 'Goes West'". Folk Radio. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  75. "Wooden Wand - Briarwood - CD". Fire Records. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.