As long as you've at least half a sleepy eye slightly focused on popular culture, you've seen his art work, even if you never go to galleries. Up until two years ago, he'd never even shown in one, at least not the ones where you stand around sipping wine and eating imported cheeses.
Stanley Donwood could be considered one of the most successful artists of the 21st century, and yet you might not even know his name. But in "the most democratic gallery" — the record store — he is king, having done the art work for every album by the world-famous U.K. band Radiohead since their second release, 1995's "The Bends."
"With the record company stuff, I was really happy because I saw a record store as the most democratic gallery you can have because everything is treated equally. It doesn't matter who did it," says Donwood this past Sunday in the Palace Hotel lounge, overlooking the Imperial gardens. "It's all there, if you've got 10 bucks, you can go in and you buy a record that's taken maybe two years to make, and a load of artwork that's taken maybe two years to make, and psst, anyone can buy it. And I was really happy with that for ages."