Ruined Finery is an 80-page limited-edition publication that catalogues Fowler's drawing and sculpture practice from 2015-2020. As the lead designer on this publication, I worked closely alongside artist Nina Mae Fowler and Cob Gallery.
Presented in softcover format, Ruined Finery subverts Fowler’s artwork titles, texts and images to mimic the headline rhetoric and layout found in tabloid design. Much of the publication features printed ephemera that I created by hand to enhance this aesthetic. This includes a 500-word essay by Olivia Cole as a smaller insert in the centre fold, printed on pink paper in 'pulp zine' style, and numerous smaller texts typeset as newspaper clippings or scripts.
Also featured is Fowler’s 2019 commission for the National Portrait Gallery London, the Luminary Drawings - a suite of nine drawn portraits depicting contemporary British Film Directors - accompanied by an exclusive text from cultural historian and novelist Dame Marina Warner. Further texts are included from New York-based curator writer and self-titled ‘Historian of Bad Behaviour’ Alissa Bennett as well as texts from journalist, writer and columnist Eva Wiseman, and writer Austin Mutti-Mewse, author of film-star obituaries.
I also designed the vellum band for the special double release of Ruined Finery alongside Fowler's 2015 monograph Measuring Elvis.
Publication photography Courtesy Cob Gallery.
Front cover
Back cover
Inside spread — Endpapers
Inside spread
Inside spread
Inside spread
Inside spread
Inside spread with insert
Printed Vellum band for Ruined Finery + Measuring Elvis
Printed Vellum band for Ruined Finery + Measuring Elvis
Further inside spreads — Click to enlarge
