Transformed Vintage Record Covers by James Connolly

Eyes on New York City based artist James Connolly and his picturesque enhanced vintage record covers.

James Connolly is a British artist who currently lives and works in New York City. His project ‘Cover Versions’ was inspired by his days trawling 2nd record shops and junk shops collecting vinyl. There was something melancholic about the piles of dusty old records, once loved by their owners, but now discarded and forgotten forever. He wanted to give these records a new lease of life. Give them a new identity. Using acrylic paints, James Connolly distorts the familiar into something surreal and anonymous. Painting for him is a perfect escape from the distractions of technology, and it seemed a natural fit for his ode to the analog era of vinyl.

Stylistically, his influences are varied but there’s definitely a subconscious nod to the UK rave flyers of the early 90s. Growing up in London as a kid, collecting rave flyers was a big thing! They struck him as surreal and otherworldly in a way more traditional art never did. And they were playful. He always likes to keep an element of play in his work.

Check out the following selection of his artworks. You can find more on his website, just have a look here. Furthermore, you can follow James Connolly on Instagram to stay up to date with his latest work.

Using acrylic paints, James Connolly turns existing images into something completely new.
Using acrylic paints, James Connolly turns existing images into something completely new.
A surreal, anonymous portrait.
A surreal, anonymous portrait.
An artwork created with paint on an old vintage album cover.
An artwork created with paint on an old vintage album cover.
Picturesque enhanced vintage covers by James Connolly.
Picturesque enhanced vintage covers by James Connolly.
James Connolly paints over old vintage album covers to give them a new surreal personality.
James Connolly paints over old vintage album covers to give them a new surreal personality.
Using acrylic paints, the artist distorts the familiar and creates something anonymous.
Using acrylic paints, the artist distorts the familiar and creates something anonymous.

Feel free and discover more outstanding artists on WE AND THE COLOR.