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
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
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
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
4AD
1983 – 1988
http://www.4ad.com/