by Claire O'Neill

Storm Thorgerson is like a mustache-less Salvador Dali of the modern design world — and almost cooler because he basically grew up with Pink Floyd. You've almost certainly seen his art at some point; over the course of his 40-year career it has covered albums by not only Pink Floyd, but also Led Zeppelin, Muse, The Cranberries, Genesis, etc.

  • Pink Floyd's "Back Catalogue," 1996
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    Pink Floyd's "Back Catalogue," 1996
    Storm Thorgerson/StormStudios/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • The Mars Volta's "Frances the Mute" album cover, 2004
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    The Mars Volta's "Frances the Mute" album cover, 2004
    Storm Thorgerson/StormStudios/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • The Cranberries' "Bury the Hatchet," 1999
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    The Cranberries' "Bury the Hatchet," 1999
    Storm Thorgerson/StormStudios/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Muse's "Absolution," 2003
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    Muse's "Absolution," 2003
    Storm Thorgerson/StormStudios/Muse/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Pink Floyd's "The Division Bell," 1994
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    Pink Floyd's "The Division Bell," 1994
    Storm Thorgerson and Keith Breeden/Pink Floyd/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Phish's "Slip, Stitch and Pass," 1997
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    Phish's "Slip, Stitch and Pass," 1997
    Storm Thorgerson/StormStudios/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Led Zeppelin's "Presence," 1976
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    Led Zeppelin's "Presence," 1976
    Storm Thorgerson/Hipgnosis/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • The Mars Volta's "Amputechture" (unused), 2006
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    The Mars Volta's "Amputechture" (unused), 2006
    Storm Thorgerson/StormStudios/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Pink Floyd's "Ummagumma," 1969
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    Pink Floyd's "Ummagumma," 1969
    Storm Thorgerson/Hipgnosis/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Muse's "Black Holes and Revelations," 2006
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    Muse's "Black Holes and Revelations," 2006
    Storm Thorgerson/The Men Of Mystery/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Pink Floyd's "Animals," 1977
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    Pink Floyd's "Animals," 1977
    Storm Thorgerson/Roger Waters Photos and Hipgnosis/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Led Zeppelin's "In Through the Out Door," 1979
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    Led Zeppelin's "In Through the Out Door," 1979
    Storm Thorgerson/Hipgnosis/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Pink Floyd's "Atom Heart Mother," 1980
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    Pink Floyd's "Atom Heart Mother," 1980
    Storm Thorgerson/Hipgnosis/Pink Floyd/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • The Cortinas' "Defiant Pose" single, 1977
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    The Cortinas' "Defiant Pose" single, 1977
    Storm Thorgerson/Hipgnosis/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery
  • Thornley's "Come Again," 2004
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    Thornley's "Come Again," 2004
    Storm Thorgerson/StormStudios/Courtesy of Idea Generation Gallery

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"Right But Wrong" is a retrospective exhibition of Thorgerson's work, on display through May 2 at Idea Generation Gallery in England . Weird and eccentric and kind of creepy, his pre-photoshop portfolio was (and still is) undoubtedly one of the most influential and recognizable in the realm of album art.

"Dark Side of the Moon" album cover
Storm Thorgerson/Hipgnosis

Album cover to Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973

Descend into the deliriums of Thorgerson's head by taking a tour through his Web site. And check out Idea Generation while you're at it. It's a PR agency that says, "Find something you enjoy doing — and then try to do it better than anyone else." But don't choose album art. Thorgerson has that covered.

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