Image via Complex Original
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
Kate Moss by Damien Hirst
Publication: Tar
Date: Spring/Summer 2009
Damien Hirst is obsessed with anatomy, so it made sense that for the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Tar Magazine, the British conceptual artist took a scalpel to the side of Kate Moss's face and sliced it open, playing off of W magazine's cover of the model from March 2005.
Shepard Fairey
Barack Obama by Shepard Fairey
Publication: TIME
Date: December 29, 2008
By now, we've all seen Shepard Fairey's famous Barack Obama Hope poster. Dude even got himself a shout-out from Jay-Zon Magna Carta Holy Grail. The success of the Hope poster got him the opportunity to do another portrait of Obama for the cover of TIME, joining the ranks of Andy Warhol, Al Hirschfield, Stanley Glaubach, and others.
Nicki Minaj for W Magazine's Art Issue by Francesco Vezzoli
Nicki Minaj by Francesco Vezzoli
Publication: W Magazine's "Art Issue"
Date: November 2011
Italian artist and filmmaker Francesco Vezzoli has always been captivated by powerful women in history. Most of his works transform modern day women into the dames of yesteryear. For the November 2011 cover of W Magazine, Vezzoli wanted to explore the imaging of iconic female hip-hop stars, and who better fits the role of a strong and totally boss woman than Nicki Minaj?
images via
Jeff Koons
Jeff Koons
Publication: New York Time's Style
Date: Fall 2009
For the fifth anniversary of New York Time's Style Magazine, the editors had Jeff Koons plop the blow-up caterpillar from his Caterpillar (with chains) piece onto some yellow posies. It's simple and sweet.
T.I. for Complex Magazine by Jose Parla
T.I. by Jose Parla
Publication: Complex
Date: August/September 2010
Back in 2010, we had T.I. grace the cover of our August/September issue. The mag also featured the signature script of Brooklyn-based contemporary artist José Parlá. Parlá works with calligraphy to create pieces that resemble the painted, plastered, worn, and sometimes neglected walls of a city, and his style worked perfectly with T.I.'s energy in this shot.
Jessica Chastain for W Magazine by George Condo, Rineke Dijkstra, Chantal Joffe, and Mikalene Thomas
Jessica Chastain by George Condo, Rineke Dijkstra, Chantal Joffe, and Mickalene Thomas
Publication: W
Date: January 2013
If you didn't pick up a copy of W Magazine's January 2013 issue, you missed out. The issue featured Jessica Chastain artistically reinterpreted by George Condo, Rineke Dijkstra, Chantal Joffe, and Mickalene Thomas. Unlike traditional shoots, Joffe not only photographed Chastain but also chose to portray the Zero Dark Thirty actress with oil paints, her weapon of choice.
N.E.R.D. by FriendsWithYou
N.E.R.D. by FriendsWithYou
Publication: STATUS
Date: November 2010
Inspired by the likes of Takashi Murakami, Arturo Herrera, and Yayoi Kusama, art duo FriendsWithYou teleports N.E.R.D. to a land far from our imagination for the cover of STATUS Magazine. Pharrell and company are placed in a setting of cartoon planets, bubble-eyed clouds, and other cool-looking creatures, reminiscent of toys from our childhood. Working to spread their message of "Magic, Luck, and Friendship," these dudes make us want to be friends with them just based on how amazing this cover turned out.
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Publication: Vogue
Date: April 1944
It's hard to imagine Vogue without the face of Katy Perry, Rihanna, or some other super hot celebrity on the cover. One of our favorites from the 1940s, however, was fashioned by none other than Salvador Dalí, the father of surrealism. There's something both eerie and cool-looking about the trippy typography and illustration of birds flying off into the sky.
Ai Weiwei for TIME
China Cover by Ai Weiwei
Publication: TIME Magazine
Date: June 17, 2013
Ai Weiwei has never held back when it comes to voicing his opinions on his motherland. Just a month ago, TIME's managing editor Rick Stengel unveiled the Chinese artist and activist's cover, praising it as "the most beautiful cover we've ever done in our history." Made from the traditional Chinese art of papercutting, it is easily one of the most eye-catching, if not most beautiful news magazine covers we've seen.
The Gun in America by Roy Lichtenstein
The Gun in America by Roy Lichtenstein
Publication: TIME Magazine
Date: June 21, 1968
TIME definitely has some of the most timeless covers we've ever seen by artists like Roy Lichtenstein. Pun intended.
B.o.B. for Complex Magazine by Todd James
B.o.B. by Todd James
Publication: Complex
Date: August/September 2010
We can't forget about Todd "REAS" James who designed the other cover for our August/September 2010 issue. James, who began his artistic endeavors in the New York City Subway system way back in the day, incorporates his easily recognizable cartoon-style paintings alongside B.o.B.
Michael Jackson for TIME by Andy Warhol
Michael Jackson by Andy Warhol
Publication: TIME
Date: March 19, 1984
It was only appropriate for the king of Pop art Andy Warhol to design TIME Magazine's cover of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. It's hard to go wrong with Warhol. His use of colors, reminiscent of his other iconic, screen-printed portraits, ensure that both kings live on in our memories forever.
Lindsay Lohan for Complex Magazine by KAWS
Lindsay Lohan by KAWS
Publication: Complex
Date: August/September 2010
Not to toot our own horn, but our cover of Lindsay Lohan with KAWS' artwork looks pretty good. The red-head gone brunette and KAWS' balloons made for a cover that looked sexy and had some of that street art swag. Peep the photoshoot images to see more of KAWS' iconic Mickey Mouse hands and sculpture.
Kim Kardashian for W Magazine's Art Issue by Barbara Kruger
Kim Kardashian by Barbara Kruger
Publication: W Magazine's "Art Issue"
Date: October 2010
Barbara Kruger's cover of W Magazine caused quite a bit of stir when the magazine hit shelves in October 2010. Kruger, who's never held back on her criticism of sexism, consumerism, and society in general, stayed true to her style and slapped "It's all about me. I mean you. I mean me," across an otherwise completely nude Kim Kardashian. The iconic white on red text is Kruger's thoughts on reality television and its impact on American culture. The queen of reality television was only the perfect model for this shoot.
Britney Spears for Pop by Takashi Murakami
Britney Spears by Takashi Murami
Publication: Pop
Date: Fall/Winter 2010
Perhaps the most artistic cover of all covers, artist Takashi Murakami took the Princess of Pop (that's Britney Spears) and recreated her into a combination of a blushing bride and a manga character. Decked out in the artist's famous Murakami flowers, somehow Britney looks more like the Britney from "Baby One More Time" with that red book bag.
