Project Description
Morgan Howell: 45 rpm exhibition
Morgan Howell’s Supersize singles
There’s something magical about a great single. The Smiths’ guitar maestro Johnny Marr (who went so far as having the ‘45rpm’ logo tattooed on his arm) had it right when he said:“The seven-inch single, as an entity, is an absolutely powerful, possibly otherworldly object.”
Imagine your favourite seven inch single, its bag worn at the edges. Now imagine that on huge scale, around 27 inches x 27 inches (68 x 68 cm). That’s where Morgan Howell comes in. Morgan creates original paintings of classic seven-inch waxings, but on a superscale. These are not paintings on flat canvas – these are 3D paintings, in handpainted worn bags, crinkled and creased at the edges by Morgan.
Morgan’s paintings reproduce the label artwork in all its glory, along with some stunning bag designs. Often overlooked in favour of picture sleeves and LPs, the paper bags for singles sleeves display some simple yet beautiful designs.
45RPM gallery exhibition
A selection of photographs from our London gallery exhibition with Morgan.
What are the available options?
Morgan offers commissions of original paintings based on the single of your choice. Whether your taste is for Voodoo Chile by Jimi Hendrix, or Voodoo Voodoo by Den Hegarty, Morgan can create that special piece for you as a supersize original.
Once Morgan has made an original, he then creates limited editions from it.
We offer an extensive range of Morgan’s 13 x 19 inch limited edition prints.
An original seven inch single from Japan sits in front of the original painting created by Morgan from it. A really beautiful job.
Original 3D Supersize painted singles
(27×27 inch single in 32×32 inch frame)
Each original painting of a seven inch single measures 27 x 27 inches / 68 x 68 cm—approximately fifteen times the surface area of the original singles on which they are based. You can see one alongside—a beautiful Japanese pressing of “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones, with the supersize original painting that Morgan has created from it.
The source for each of Morgan’s original 3D paintings is an actual pre-owned seven inch single. A canvas bag measuring 27 x 27 inches (approx 68cm x 68cm) is hand-painted and distressed to replicate the creases and kinks in the original bag. Morgan then fixes a large black grooved vinyl disk with a 27 inch (68cm) diameter inside the bag, and the centre label detail is all hand-painted by Morgan.
The completed supersize single is then housed in a white box frame, ready for hanging (dimensions 32 x 32 inches / 81 x 81 cm). This has been designed so the the single, fixed in its bag, floats inside the frame, highlighting the 3D effect. Each original painting is signed by Morgan on the front, and supplied with a certificate of authenticity attached to the reverse of the frame.
If you have a particular single that has a special resonance for you, and which Morgan has not already produced, then you can commission an original 3D painting of it. Get in touch if this appeals and we will explain the process for commissioning an original. Please note that Morgan will only paint an original single once, and subsequent commission requests for a piece that already exists will be turned down.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to an original, Morgan offers limited edition versions.
Price for an original: Please enquire.
A limited edition print on paper
(10.5 x 10.5 inch image)
This is Morgan’s entry level piece. It is a straight print on fine art paper–there is no 3D element involved.
The image size is approximately 10.5 x 10.5 inches / 27 x 27 cm, and the paper size is 13 x 19 inches / 33 x 48 cm.
Limited to 75 numbered examples, each one signed, stamped and numbered by Morgan Howell.
We can supply these unframed or framed.
Please allow one week between order and delivery of an unframed example.
Price for an unframed print: £195
