“[Pete was] breaking away from the old literal style of taking musician portraits or couples walking in the park. That’s what I loved about [him]: he was the king of that idea of interpretation, of being indirect and artistic. He had an amazing ability to relate obliquely to the album’s music and title so that it seemed to paint his own psyche.” – Quincy Jones, 2006
Bruce Silverstein Gallery proudly presents Sound & Sight: Pete Turner’s Jazz Album Covers, an exhibition celebrating Turner’s profound impact on the visual culture of Jazz. Pete Turner’s vibrant colors and surrealist compositions have graced the pages of magazines, including Esquire, Look, and Sports Illustrated. However, his work may be most recognizable to a different audience—those with a passion for jazz. Spanning five decades and over seventy covers, Turner’s pioneering approach infused jazz album covers with conceptual depth and dynamic energy. By mirroring the improvisational and emotive nature of jazz, Turner bridged sound and vision. His Surrealist predilection and unparalleled ability to translate the essence of music into striking visual compositions redefined the role of the album cover in the art world and reshaped how music is experienced. Sound and Sight: Pete Turner’s Jazz Album Covers invites audiences to immerse themselves in the fusion of sound and sight that characterized his work. As you explore his work, ask yourself: can you see the sound? Can you feel the color of jazz?
