We know people do, in fact, judge books by their covers — but what about albums? A striking cover can stop you mid-scroll, pull you into an artist’s world before you’ve heard a single note or wonderfully capture the essence of music you’ve been waiting months to hear. Crafting an image that distills a musical experience is no easy feat. Here, Our Culture spotlights seven artists behind some of the most memorable recent album covers.
Shira Inbar, David Byrne – Who Is the Sky?
The trippy, vibrant cover for David Byrne’s art pop album was a true artistic collaboration, designed by New York-based image maker Shira Inbar with photography by Ahmed Klink and costumes by Tom Van Der Borgh. Byrne came to Inbar with a curated collection of reference images — traditional masks, ceremonial dress, ritual garments from cultures around the world — which became the foundation for the cover’s kaleidoscopic aesthetic. Known for her funky designs and bold use of colour, Inbar translated these influences into a distinctly contemporary visual language.
SSION, Perfume Genius – Glory
Perfume Genius’ album Glory showcases a striking portrait of Mike Hadreas, photographed by director, photographer and musician SSION (Cody Critcheloe). The carefully composed portrait reflects the intensity of the album itself, and serves as a nod to SSION’s cinematic, subversive storytelling. Originally from Kentucky and trained in painting at the Kansas City Art Institute, Critcheloe has become celebrated for his hyper-stylized, concept-driven work with artists like Robyn, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kim Petras, and of course Perfume Genius, as well as major fashion brands.
Nieves González, Lily Allen – West End Girl
Wherever you were in 2025, it was impossible to miss the cultural shockwaves of West End Girl and Lily Allen’s legendary return — a moment beautifully encapsulated in the album’s cover art. Painted by Nieves González between Andalucía and London, the image captures Allen’s defiant spirit and world-weary glamour with remarkable emotional precision, earning widespread praise from listeners who felt the portrait deepened their connection to the music itself.
Pak Bae, Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)
The album cover of For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) evokes Dutch Golden Age painting, with Michelle Zauner captured amid a lavish spread of food and wine. Seoul-based photographer Pak Bae, who made his camera debut at London Fashion Week in 2014, shot the image. His work has a distinctly cinematic quality, often blending documentary sensibilities with fashion editorial — treating photography much like painting.
Mark Sommerfeld, Geese – Getting Killed
The cover of Getting Killed by Geese features a striking image by Canadian photographer Mark Sommerfeld: a figure backlit by sunshine with a trumpet raised in one hand and a gun pointed directly at the viewer in the other. At first glance, the image radiates summery ease, but look a little longer and the threatening undertone emerges. Now based in New York, Sommerfeld has built his practice around deep connection with his subjects, believing that learning as much as possible about someone before a shoot is essential. His approach results in photographs brimming with genuine intimacy and unguarded emotion.
Kip the Fog, Apollo Brown and Bronze Nazareth – Funeral for a Dream
The cover of Funeral for a Dream stops you cold. Heavy brushstrokes build a thick atmosphere of mourning, with grief radiating across the ombre tones — all the more powerful for the absence of facial details, which nudges the viewer to project their own sorrow onto the figures. Artist Kip the Fog (Chris Gagnon) brings a deeply textural approach to his painting, frequently depicting significant political and cultural figures with this same visceral quality.
Brendon Burton, Jane Remover – Revengeseekerz
Brendon Burton‘s cover photograph for Revengeseekerz by Jane Remover captures a moment of ritualistic intensity: a figure crouched low, cigarette dangling from their lips, pressing a flaming katana into the earth. Shot in Oxnard, California in January 2025, the photograph showcases Burton’s talent for the ominous and atmospheric. Known for work spotlighting abandoned buildings and stark natural settings, this moment demonstrates his ability to conjure that haunting quality through gesture and light alone.
