Sleeve Appeal

Lecture and pop-up exhibition about album covers in one of Haarlem's coolest record stores Near Mint.

The album cover is more than just packaging; it is a work of art in itself, a visual translation of the music, and contributes to the experience of an album.
Iconic covers are collectively etched in our minds: the Pink Floyd covers by the design firm Hipgnosis, Unknown Pleasures by Peter Savile, the punk and DIY style of Raymond Pettibon, and the bold typographic style used by The Designer's Republic for covers of Aphex Twin and Autechre. It's time to celebrate the album cover. 

For Sleeve Appeal, we asked Dutch graphic designers and illustrators about their favorite album cover and the reasons for their choice. Designers and illustrators Joost Swarte, Ytje Veenstra, Patrick Vogt, Merel van Meurs, Jeroen Borrenbergs, Jean-Paul Frijns, Iris Liklikuwata, Ivo Schmetz, and Sara Elazami share their favorites.

Sleeve Appeal invites us to reflect on the power of graphic design and the lasting influence of the album cover on music culture and visual art. The pop-up exhibition will be on display from Friday, September 26 to Saturday, October 4. On Saturday, September 27, illustrator Joost Swarte will discuss his favorite album cover designs. Pre-registration is required.

Theo Ploeg (NL) is a sociologist, designer, and researcher. He writes for the Flemish cultural magazine Gonzo (circus) and publishes STASIS, a newsletter about pop culture. He teaches at the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts.

Paula Tabárez (UY) is an audiovisual artist and graphic designer. She is one of the founders of Litu, an organization that visualizes current social developments in art projects. She has a great passion for all forms of animation and music.

In collaboration with Near Mint Haarlem.