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 in a choice of three styles.Two of those variants are three-dimensional, while the third is a straightforward print on paper.
As you scroll down this page you will see details of all the limited editions that are available.
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.
Please allow 6-8 weeks between order and delivery.
Price for an original: £12,500.
Limited edition 3D Supersize prints of painted singles
(27×27 inch single in 32×32 inch frame)
This is a more affordable variant which retains the scale and impact of an original supersize 3D painting, but uses a printed bag and printed label rather than the hand-painted version on an original. Morgan applies some manual distressing to achieve the final effect, so there is an element of hand-finishing to these supersize limited edition 3D prints.
The basic construction and physical size is similar to the original – ie a supersize canvas bag containing a 27 inch vinyl disk (but unlike an original, the disk has no grooves) that floats inside a 32 x 32 inch box frame. The edition is limited to just nine examples in this size, and each is signed and numbered by Morgan Howell on the front and supplied with a certificate of authenticity on the back of the frame.
The overall effect is very similar to an original, but because the limited edition is printed rather than painted, and because the work is editioned rather than a one-off, this enables Morgan to reduce the price of the limited edition compared to an original 3D painting.
Please note that these limited edition Supersize 3D singles can only be made if Morgan has already created an original painted supersize single.
Supersize editions are made to order. Please allow 4-5 weeks between order and delivery.
Price for a supersize limited edition: £2,500
Limited edition 3D Oversize prints of painted singles
(12¼ x 12¼ inch single in 16×16 inch frame)
The Oversize print is a scaled-down version giving you the flavour of the supersize limited edition, but in a 16×16 inch (41x41cm) overall framed size. It is not a full 3D effect as there is no separate bag and vinyl disk, but Morgan cleverly replicates the 3D effect of the bag by a two piece combination of a printed paper disk and printed paper sleeve, with the sleeve window cut to reveal the paper disk underneath.
These Oversize prints are produced in limited editions of nine, each one signed and numbered on the front by Morgan Howell and supplied in a white box frame with a certificate on the reverse.
Oversize editions are made to order. Please allow 2-3 weeks between order and delivery.
Price for an oversize limited edition: £595
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
Keep scrolling down the page and you will see the limited editions that are available to purchase.
The 50’s
John Lee Hooker, Dimples
The Platters, Only You (And You Alone)
Little Richard, Tutti Frutti
Elvis Presley, That’s All Right
The Beatles
The Beatles, She Loves You
The Beatles, Yesterday (Capitol)
The Beatles, Help!
The Beatles, Please Please Me
The Beatles, P.S. I Love You
The Beatles, Penny Lane
The Beatles, Love Me Do
The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones, Tumbling Dice
The Rolling Stones, It’s All Over Now
The Rolling Stones, Brown Sugar
The Rolling Stones, Gimme Shelter
The Rolling Stones, Satisfaction
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan, Like A Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan, Blowin’ In The Wind
60’s Soul
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Heatwave
The Chiffrons, Sweet Talkin’ Guy
The Four Tops, Walk Away Renee
Booker T and the MGs, Green Onions
Marvin Gaye, Let’s Get It On
Other 60’s
Jacky, White Horse
The Zombies, Time Of The Season
Cream, Sunshine Of Your Love
Pink Floyd, See Emily Play
Procol Harum, A Whiter Shade Of Pale
The Beach Boys, Heroes and Villains
The Shadows, Apache
Neil Diamond, Sweet Caroline
Status Quo, Pictures of Matchstick Men
Waterloo Sunset, The Kinks
Chuck Berry, You Never Can Tell
The Animals, The House of the Rising Sun
The Shadows, Wonderful Land
Gerry & The Pacemakers, You’ll Never Walk Alone
The Who, I Can’t Explain
Elvis Presley, Good Luck Charm
Ketty Lester, Love Letters
Glenn Campbell, Wichita Lineman
Jimi Hendrix, All Along The Watchtower
Shirley Bassey, Goldfinger
The Who, My Generation
David Bowie
David Bowie, Fame
David Bowie, Hang On To Yourself
David Bowie, Liza Jane
David Bowie, Life On Mars
David Bowie, Rebel Rebel
David Bowie, The Jean Genie
David Bowie, Space Oddity
David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie, Heroes
Punk / New Wave / Ska
Ramones, Baby I Love You
The Special AKA, Gangsters
Blondie, Heart Of Glass
The Specials, Ghost Town
The Jam, Town Called Malice
Madness, Baggy Trousers
The Clash, White Man – Blue
The Clash, White Man – Yellow
The Clash, White Man – Green
The Clash, White Man – Pink
Other 70’s and 80’s
Mott The Hoople, All The Young Dudes
Pink Floyd, Another Brick In The Wall Part 2
T-Rex, Metal Guru
Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody
The Eagles, Hotel California
ABBA, Dancing Queen
Free, All Right Now
Elton John, Your Song
Genesis, I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
Black Sabbath, Paranoid
Lou Reed, Walk On The Wild Side
T-Rex, 20th Century Boy
Bruce Springsteen, Born To Run
Neil Diamond, Cracklin’ Rosie
T-Rex, Jeepster
Al Stewart, Year Of The Cat
U2, I Will Follow
