15 Awesome Artist-Designed Magazine Covers

These artists never needed graphic design school.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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We all fawn over magazines that display curvy, bodacious models like Kate Upton, or good-looking dudes like our boy James Franco. But with the media constantly exposing us to gorgeous, airbrushed celebrities on the covers of glossies month and month again, after a while it can all start to look the same.

Thankfully, some publications have caught on and called forth artists like Francesco Vezzoli and KAWS to re-conceive and change up the typical photo shoot or cover image. Check out our round-up of 15 Awesome Artist-Designed Magazine Covers (including some covers with no models at all) and marvel over these artists' editorial feats.

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Kate Moss for TAR by Damien Hirst

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Shepard Fairey

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Nicki Minaj for W Magazine's Art Issue by Francesco Vezzoli

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Jeff Koons

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T.I. for Complex Magazine by Jose Parla

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Jessica Chastain for W Magazine by George Condo, Rineke Dijkstra, Chantal Joffe, and Mikalene Thomas

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N.E.R.D. by FriendsWithYou

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Salvador Dalí

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Ai Weiwei for TIME

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The Gun in America by Roy Lichtenstein

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B.o.B. for Complex Magazine by Todd James

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Michael Jackson for TIME by Andy Warhol

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Lindsay Lohan for Complex Magazine by KAWS

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Kim Kardashian for W Magazine's Art Issue by Barbara Kruger

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Britney Spears for Pop by Takashi Murakami

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