You're Invited! NYC Album Art Panel
Announcing my premiere in-person album art discussion on May 20th, 2026
I’m bubbling over with excitement to announce that I’m hosting my first-ever in-person panel discussion on Wednesday, May 20th, 2026, from 7-10 pm at Public Records in Brooklyn, NY. I’ll be joined by visual artists Craig Braun, Isha Dipika Walia, and Camilo Medina to ruminate about album art as a creative practice. You can purchase your tickets here.
The event will take place inside The Sound Room at Public Records, one of my favorite spaces in New York. Designed by co-founders Shane Davis and Francis Harris, the venue is a harmonious blend of art and music, carefully curated with intention. When planning this talk, my priority was to host it in a space where design is at the forefront, just like the artists I’ll be speaking with whose work spans generations, genres, and styles. Craig shares Isha’s affinity for creating interactive vinyl and Camilo’s knack for logos. While their careers are 30 years apart, we’ll ask whether time and technology have also changed creativity, or if it's a steadfast skill.
The panel will be an intimate seated gathering of just 100 of us. Right now, I have a limited number of super-early bird tickets on sale for $10. You can purchase those here. Once those run out, early-bird tickets will be on sale for $15, and then regular tickets at $20. If you’re a paid subscriber, there’s a promo code in the chat that will discount your ticket to the super-early bird rate no matter what day you purchase it.
Another bonus: paid subscribers will have full access to recorded footage of the panel. If you don’t live in New York, you’ll be able to listen and watch whenever your heart desires. Spoiler alert: this isn’t the first panel taking place this year… Upgrade your subscription here!
Meet the Panelists
As you may recall, I spoke with GRAMMY award winner Craig Braun late last year about his role in bringing some of music’s most iconic album covers to life, like The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers. Before the notorious art was approved, Craig had some other ideas up his sleeve. “I was afraid of the zipper,” he jokingly laughed, thinking of the fragile vinyl that was at risk of being dented and scratched by the pull. Marshall Chess, the founding president of Rolling Stones Records, agreed with Braun but urged him on. “If anyone could solve that, it’s you, Craig.”
You can read the rest of the interview here and see him talk in person at Public Records. He’ll most likely say some hilariously raunchy things that you won’t want to miss.
Isha Dipika Walia is a member of the photography duo, Cairo Dipika, and the co-founder of Studio Pending, a multidisciplinary studio that has created visuals for Lady Gaga, Travis Scott & Beyoncé. Many moons ago, we worked together on a website for the musician Kindness’ album Something Like a War, for which Isha also did the campaign creative. One of my favorite pieces of hers is Vegyn’s The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions. Like Craig, she defies the two-dimensional and created a vinyl that folds like origami. It has been so nice to reconnect, and I can’t wait to catch up with her at the panel.
Camilo Medina and I go way back (he branded the perfect squiggly logo for my studio, POND Creative). He is the lead singer of psych-pop group Divino Niño and began his solo project S.3.R last year. Besides designing visuals for artists like Rosalía, Clairo, and Water From Your Eyes, I’m really interested in learning how his perspective as a musician has influenced his visual creative practice. Take a look at this hyper-detailed album cover for Last Spa on Earth, which he illustrated.
Besides hearing from the panelists, I’m just as excited to meet some of you in person, and for you all to meet each other! Many friends have helped bring this event together (a special thank you to Ploeg Arts for producing the panel), and I hope it will also spark new connections for you all. This panel wouldn’t be happening without your support! Thank you for staying with me as we embark on this new chapter.
What types of questions do you want to hear at the panel? Include them in the comments below!
The Art of Cover Art is a free educational and inspirational resource. If you have $5/ month to spare, it would be super helpful in furthering my research. Or, if you think a friend might enjoy this newsletter, the best way to pay it forward is by sharing!
Can't wait!!
This is soooo cool! In PR's soundroom nonetheless. Sadly I'll be working nearby at my restaurant job at that time. I loveee Camilo's covers