Art and music have long been entwined, with visual artists drawing inspiration from musical genres to create innovative works. The Serpentine Gallery in London has recently hosted an exhibition celebrating Peter Doig's love of music, pairing recent paintings with his favorite records played through a state-of-the-art sound system.
But it's not just the visual artists who have been inspired by music - other creatives have also found their way back to art through music. Harold Offeh, a Ghanaian-born artist, credits Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life' as a source of inspiration for his Covers series. The album's scope and soulfulness have stayed with him long after he first discovered it.
For Ragnar Kjartansson, music is an integral part of his daily life, playing while he works or does everyday tasks like doing the dishes. His favorite song, Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild,' has become a trusted companion in his studio.
In contrast, Chris Ofili mourns the decline of radio as a source of music discovery. He now carefully selects what to play in his hillside studio in Trinidad, opting for vocals and sonic arrangements that stimulate thoughts and emotions. Sault is one of his current favorites, weaving together themes of Black experience, faith, love, spirituality, and mystery.
Joy Labinjo credits Fireboy DML's 'Peru' with helping her get through a tough period when she was making nudes for an exhibition. The song brought her back to life after lunch, providing the energy needed to continue creating. Her favorite music now is Sade's 'Babyfather,' offering a soothing beat that makes her feel relaxed.
Jeremy Deller, meanwhile, turns to John Cage's 4'33" when he needs inspiration. This minimalist composition has become a trusted companion in his studio, helping him think through ideas and tap into the complexity of live performance.
Laure Prouvost loves recording dripping or scratching sounds on her iPhone, finding that music is everywhere - even in nature. She incorporates these sounds into her videos, blurring the line between image and sound.
Mark Leckey's journey back to art was facilitated by music, using specific songs as blueprints for his works. 'Trip II the Moon (Part 2)' by Acen was a particular favorite, its ecstatic record undergirded by melancholy.
As we see from these diverse artists' experiences, music has the power to ignite creativity and inspire new artistic expressions. Whether it's providing a soundtrack for daily tasks or fueling imagination through specific compositions, music plays a vital role in many creatives' lives.
But it's not just the visual artists who have been inspired by music - other creatives have also found their way back to art through music. Harold Offeh, a Ghanaian-born artist, credits Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life' as a source of inspiration for his Covers series. The album's scope and soulfulness have stayed with him long after he first discovered it.
For Ragnar Kjartansson, music is an integral part of his daily life, playing while he works or does everyday tasks like doing the dishes. His favorite song, Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild,' has become a trusted companion in his studio.
In contrast, Chris Ofili mourns the decline of radio as a source of music discovery. He now carefully selects what to play in his hillside studio in Trinidad, opting for vocals and sonic arrangements that stimulate thoughts and emotions. Sault is one of his current favorites, weaving together themes of Black experience, faith, love, spirituality, and mystery.
Joy Labinjo credits Fireboy DML's 'Peru' with helping her get through a tough period when she was making nudes for an exhibition. The song brought her back to life after lunch, providing the energy needed to continue creating. Her favorite music now is Sade's 'Babyfather,' offering a soothing beat that makes her feel relaxed.
Jeremy Deller, meanwhile, turns to John Cage's 4'33" when he needs inspiration. This minimalist composition has become a trusted companion in his studio, helping him think through ideas and tap into the complexity of live performance.
Laure Prouvost loves recording dripping or scratching sounds on her iPhone, finding that music is everywhere - even in nature. She incorporates these sounds into her videos, blurring the line between image and sound.
Mark Leckey's journey back to art was facilitated by music, using specific songs as blueprints for his works. 'Trip II the Moon (Part 2)' by Acen was a particular favorite, its ecstatic record undergirded by melancholy.
As we see from these diverse artists' experiences, music has the power to ignite creativity and inspire new artistic expressions. Whether it's providing a soundtrack for daily tasks or fueling imagination through specific compositions, music plays a vital role in many creatives' lives.
just think about how cool it is when art and music come together 
, like those paintings at the Serpentine Gallery paired with Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life' 
... can imagine a big ol' room full of creativity 
... and then there's Harold Offeh's Covers series, gotta love how music influences art 
... Ragnar Kjartansson's studio sounds like an awesome place to be 
... and what about Chris Ofili, selecting songs that stimulate thoughts & emotions? 
. I mean, Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life' is iconic, but it's not like every artist who loves that album automatically becomes an inspired genius 
. And what about the new stuff? Can't we get inspiration from more modern artists or genres? 
The way Ragnar Kjartansson uses Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild' as a trusty studio companion is just, like, so relatable 
. And can we talk about Chris Ofili's love for Sault? I've had that song on repeat all day, every day 
It's like, music has this magic power to bring creatives together, you feel me? 
But seriously, these artists are killing it! Harold Offeh's Covers series is like a love letter to Stevie Wonder - who knew an album could inspire so much art? 
Meanwhile, Ragnar Kjartansson just chillin' to Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild' while he works... I guess that's what we all need in our lives, right? 
, you know? Like Peter Doig's paintings are on another level when you've got that sick sound system blasting Stevie Wonder 
. And can we talk about how music helps creatives find their 'Manchild' vibes, just like Ragnar Kjartansson with Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild'? 
Radio, TikTok, or whatever - I'm all for finding those hidden gems! Chris Ofili's Sault obsession is on point, and Joy Labinjo's Fireboy DML sesh sounds like just the ticket to get creative juices flowing 
I think its so cool how music is inspiring artists in different ways. Like Harold Offeh's Covers series - can you imagine hearing Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life' for the first time? 
Music has a way of transporting us to another time and space, and that must be really incredible for creatives! 
And Jeremy Deller's got John Cage's 4'33" down pat as a trusty studio companion... it just goes to show how music can be both soothing and inspiring at the same time. 
. I mean, take Harold Offeh, he was literally inspired by Stevie Wonder's album 'Songs in the Key of Life', it's like music can transport you to another world or something. And then there's Ragnar Kjartansson, who plays his fave song while working, that's just chill vibes for me 
. Chris Ofili is all about finding new music to stimulate thoughts and emotions, I feel him on that one too 
. For me, it's just about what sparks the imagination, whether it's a particular song or just the sound of nature 
.