Nina Chanel Abney is among the artists invited by Interscope Records to celebrate the label's 30th anniversary by reimagining the covers of iconic albums. Abney's work 2PM, created in Pace Prints' studios, remakes the iconic and controversial cover of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Tupac Shakur's final album before his untimely death in 1996.
The original cover art, an oil painting by Compton-based artist Ronald "Riskie" Brent, depicts Shakur (recording as his alter-ego Makaveli) as the Crucified Christ. Abney reworks the image in her signature angular graphic style and adds layers of context and symbolism with the inclusion of two, black and white, mourning figures, ascending doves, and humans hands and skulls gathered at the foot of the cross.
Other commissions for the project include Cecily Brown, Julie Curtiss, Loie Hollowell, Rashid Johnson, KAWS, Adam Pendleton, Ed Ruscha and Kehinde Wiley. The commissioned art will be on view at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for two weeks only, January 30–February 13.
Limited vinyl pressings of the albums, will be available on the Ntwrk video shopping platform. January 27–31. The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, drops Sunday, January 30 at 8pm.
