Vaughan Oliver, UK

AGI member since 2012

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Vaughan Oliver was an art director, graphic designer and consultant with 35 years experience of working in all areas of graphic design. Specialising in work for the music industry, Oliver's unique approach has attracted clients from a broader field including fashion, publishing, packaging, film and television, theatre, architecture, retail, advertising, food, dance, erotica, football and education.

He has enjoyed numerous international "solo” shows including Paris, Tokyo, Osaka, Los Angeles and Athens. "Vaughan Oliver: visceral pleasures”, a design monograph by Rick Poynor was published in November, 2000. In 2011 Vaughan was awarded an Honorary MA by the University of the Creative Arts (UCA), Surrey and a Visiting Professorship at The University of Greenwich.

In 2014 Vaughan was awarded a further Visiting Professorship at the UCA, Epsom. He is also featured as one of 75 profiles of "Graphic Visionaries" from 100 years of graphic design published 2015 by Laurence King.

Design work by Vaughan Oliver


    Vaughan Oliver, UK (2012)

    Vaughan Oliver was an art director, graphic designer and consultant with 35 years experience of working in all areas of graphic design. Specialising in work for the music industry, Oliver's unique approach has attracted clients from a broader field including fashion, publishing, packaging, film and television, theatre, architecture, retail, advertising, food, dance, erotica, football and education.

    He has enjoyed numerous international "solo” shows including Paris, Tokyo, Osaka, Los Angeles and Athens. "Vaughan Oliver: visceral pleasures”, a design monograph by Rick Poynor was published in November, 2000. In 2011 Vaughan was awarded an Honorary MA by the University of the Creative Arts (UCA), Surrey and a Visiting Professorship at The University of Greenwich.

    In 2014 Vaughan was awarded a further Visiting Professorship at the UCA, Epsom. He is also featured as one of 75 profiles of "Graphic Visionaries" from 100 years of graphic design published 2015 by Laurence King.

    Publications

    plus

    v23 Poster Designs

    (2005)

    • Vaughan Oliver

    Self-published

    Published in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the innovative British label 4AD in 2005, this beautifully designed and printed catalogue features Vaughan Oliver and v23's poster designs for 4AD and other clients advertising music, dance, theatre, books, museum and v23 exhibitions and an Amnesty International anniversary. There are also a number of proposals which were never printed, as well as the rare and extremely dark poster for Oliver's 9/11/2001 Athens show.

    Vaughan Oliver: Visceral Pleasures

    (2000)

    • Rick Poynor

    Booth-Clibborn Editions

    Vaughan Oliver is an influential member of the small group that changed the face of British graphics in the 1980s. Designed by Oliver himself, and written by Rick Poynor, this book illustrates the his intensely visual and emotive work in detail for the first time - most notably his sumptuous sleeve imagery for London's 4AD label. via: http://www.booth-clibborn.com/books/vaughan-oliver-visceral-pleasures/

    This Rimy River: Vaughan Oliver and v23 Graphic Works 1988-94 (peep)

    (1994)

    • Vulva O'Rheigan

    4AD/v23

    This Rimy River is a catalog of an exhibition held at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles in 1994.

    This Rimy River: Vaughan Oliver and v23 Graphic Works 1988-94 (peep) LIMITED EDITION

    (1995)

    • Vulva O'Rheigan

    4AD/v23

    This Rimy River is a catalog of an exhibition held at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles in 1994.

    Exhibition/Exposition

    (1990)

    • Rick Poynor

    CRDC

    Exhibition catalogue for CRDC, Espace Graslin, Nantes, France

    Exhibitions

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    Where is my Mind? The work of Vaughan Oliver and the Pixies

    2016

    Stephen Lawrence Gallery, University of Greenwich, Greenwich, London

    First major exhibition celebrating the long-standing collaboration between legendary Art Director and designer, Vaughan Oliver and cult American band the Pixies. http://www.greenwichunigalleries.co.uk/where-is-my-mind-the-work-of-vaughan-oliver-and-the-pixies/

    Pixies: Minotaur

    2009

    Village Underground, Shoreditch, London

    Pixies played a secret gig at VU to support the launch of their Minotaur box set. Artist and graphic designer Vaughan Oliver curated an exhibition of artwork for the show. Photography by: http://blog.simon-larbalestier.co.uk/addenda/pixies-minotaur-launch-party-pictures/

    Slightly Off the Ground

    2009

    UCA (University of the Creative Arts), Epsom, Surrey

    The posters in this exhibition look back over the unique work of Vaughan Oliver and largely reflect his intimate connection to the post-punk independent music scene. The seminal sleeves and posters Vaughan produced after graduating from Newcastle in 1979 quickly gained recognition leading to commissions of work from the arts and business alike.

    Slightly Off the Ground

    2007

    Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston Upon Thames

    Slightly off the Ground presents a personal selection of his iconic music posters from early works with 4AD to the present day, the exhibition providing a rare overview of the themes and influences that underpin the practice of this inspirational graphic alchemist. The specially devised gallery installation, evocative of the street setting where the posters would have been first encountered, is designed together with his long term collaborator Chris Bigg.

    To Have and To Hold

    2001

    Technopolis, Athens

    A retrospective dedicated to Vaughan Oliver, the great graphic designer born in 1957, England. Oliver is most noted for his work with record label “4AD” which has revolutionized typography since the early 1980’s. He has created material for the 4AD releases by many bands, including Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, The Breeders, This Mortal Coil, Pale Saints, Pixies, and Throwing Muses.

    Is Minty a Man? Vaughan Oliver and v23: Graphic Works 1988 - 1996 (fumpf)

    1996

    University Gallery, University of Northumbria, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

    Norwich Gallery, Norwich School of Art and Design

    Cornerhouse, Manchester

    Retrospective showcase of graphic works of Vaughan Oliver and v23.

    This Rimy River

    1994

    Murray Feldman Gallery, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles

    Retrospective showcase of graphic works of Vaughan Oliver and v23.

    Glove

    1993

    GGG Gallery, Tokyo

    Retrospective showcase of graphic works of Vaughan Oliver and v23.

    Glove

    1992

    DDD Gallery, Tokyo

    Retrospective showcase of graphic works of Vaughan Oliver and v23.

    Expo 23

    1991

    Parco, Tokyo

    Retrospective showcase of graphic works of Vaughan Oliver and v23.

    Exhibition/Exposition

    1991

    Pavillon Tusquets, Parc de la Villete, Paris

    Espace Graslin (CRDC), Nastes

    Festival Art Rock '90, Centre d'Action Culturelle, Saint-Brieuc

    Retrospective showcase of graphic works of Vaughan Oliver and v23.

    Sleeves by

    1988

    Rotterdam ABK, Rotterdam

    Retrospective showcase of graphic works of Vaughan Oliver and 23 Envelope.

    23 Envelope/4AD

    1986

    CSV Corporation, Tokyo

    Retrospective showcase of graphic works of Vaughan Oliver and 23 Envelope.

    Postmodernism: Style and Subversion 1970-1990

    2011

    V&A Museum, London

    This major exhibition was the first in-depth survey of art, design and architecture of the 1970s and 1980s, examining one of the most contentious phenomena in recent art and design history: Postmodernism. http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/postmodernism/

    Uncanny: Surrealism and Graphic Design

    2010

    , Brno (and travelling)

    Uncanny: Surrealism and Graphic Design, conceived and curated by Rick Poynor for the Moravian Gallery in Brno, is the first major exhibition to explore the influence of Surrealism on graphic image making and graphic design.

    Helvetica 50

    2007

    Design Museum, London (and travelling)

    Our Friends in the North

    2007

    Robert Stephenson Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

    Exhibitions: Graphic Messages from GGG Gallery and DDD Gallery 1986-2006

    2006

    GGG Gallery, Tokyo

    DDD Gallery, Tokyo

    "Exhibitions," a show held to commemorate ginza graphic gallery's (ggg) 20th anniversary, was a retrospective look back over the course of those two decades as reflected in the activities of the major Japanese and foreign designers who exhibited at ggg and ddd through those years.

    Urban Forest Project

    2006

    Times Square, New York

    A collection of banners designed by 200 of the world's most celebrated designers and visual artists "planted" at the city's busiest, most energetic, intersection. Artists from around the world were asked to use the form, idea or a characteristic of a tree as the inspiration for their banners.

    The Contemporary Poster: A Global Persepective

    2004

    GGG Gallery, Tokyo

    Basel School of Design, Basel

    Designing Modern Life

    2004

    Design Museum, London

    Swinging London: Grasphime and Musique Aujourd'hui

    2004

    , Echirolles

    Education

    plus

    Visiting Professor/Senior Lecturer

    • Undergraduate,  
    • Postgraduate

    2011 – today

    • University of Greenwich (United Kingdom)

    Associate Lecturer

    • Postgraduate

    2007 – today

    • Kingston University (United Kingdom)

    Working with the Course Director to ensure the delivery of an effective learning experience for this predominatly international course. Mindful of the needs to optimise the students experience whilst maintaining academic rigour. Leading on the Autumn term modules, ensuring effective feedback to students. Overseeing all individual Masters projects for the duration of the academic year to realisation. Adopting innovative teaching strategies congruent to the level and composition of the group.

    Visiting Lecturer

    • Undergraduate

    2007 – today

    • UCA Epsom (United Kingdom)

    Teaching across 1st - 3rd years. Involvement with D&AD and RSA student projects. Typographic workshops, tutorial support for final year major projects. Inviting students to work in collaboration with myself on live projects with Artist in Residence/Pixies and Elephant magazine which culminated in positive press outputs in international design press for UCA and Course.

    Summer School Lecturer

      2006 – 2011

      • Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (United Kingdom)

      Self managed 1 week workshops/seminars and teaching courses. 3 courses per year

      Teaching/Research Post

      • Undergraduate,  
      • Postgraduate

      2000 – 2001

      • University of Northumbria (United Kingdom)

      BA and MA Graphic Design and Illustration

      Additional Visiting Lectures

      • Undergraduate,  
      • Postgraduate

      1994 – today

      • Multiple (Multiple)

      Central Saint Martins MACNE, RISD, Providence, USA, ICA, Boston, USA, AIGA, New York, USA, Middlesex University, Camberwell School of Art, University of Northumbria, Scarborough College of Art and Design, Manchester University, Falmouth University, University of Honolulu, Liverpool University, Norwich University, UCA, Epsom, Surrey, Brighton University, East Sussex

      Agencies

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      • Benchmark

        1980 – 1981

      • Michael Peters and Partners

        1981 – 1983