Michael Carney (born January 9, 1982) is an American art director, creative director, and photographer. He is best known for his extensive, award winning visual work with the rock band

the Black Keys The Black Keys are an American rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. The group consists of Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums). The duo began as an independent act, recording music in basements and self-producing their ...

, for whom his brother Patrick is the drummer.

Career

Carney has been the art director for The Black Keys since their creation, designing all of the band's album art. In 2011, Carney won a Grammy for Best Recording Package for his work on The Black Keys' sixth studio album, ''

Brothers A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...

''. The album cover features a simple black backdrop with the text "This is an album by the Black Keys. The name of this album is Brothers." The group's label, Nonesuch, initially expressed confusion, but eventually gave the band, and Michael, their full support of the simplistic marketing. Inside the package, the album's disc was coated with a thermal film that changes colors (black and white) at different temperatures. Later that year, Carney was profiled in the ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' article, "The Incredible, Inevitable Shrinking Album Cover" by David Browne. In 2011, The Black Keys released '' El Camino''. The album cover, designed by Carney, features a Chrystler minivan instead of an El Camino. According to Carney the look for the album cover was about capturing "the spirit of doing it the wrong way." A picture of a Chrysler minivan is printed on the album cover instead of an actual El Camino.

Personal life

Carney's uncle,

Ralph Carney Ralph (pronounced ; or ,) is a male given name of English, Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Old English ''Rædwulf'' and Radulf, cognate with the Old Norse ''Raðulfr'' (''rað'' "counsel" and ''ulfr'' "wolf"). The most common forms ...

, was a multi-instrumental musician perhaps best known for his work with

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...

. Ralph died on December 16, 2017, after sustaining head injuries from falling down steps in his Portland, Oregon, home. Carney's father is a retired longtime '' Akron Beacon Journal'' reporter. His mother, Mary Stormer, is an Akron Municipal Court deputy clerk. His stepfather is Barry Stormer, owner of a residential design/construction firm. His stepmother is Katie Byard Carney, also a retired longtime ''Beacon Journal'' reporter. Carney attended

Firestone High School Firestone Community Learning Center (Firestone CLC), previously known as Harvey S. Firestone High School, is a public high school located on the northwest side of Akron, Ohio. It is one of seven high schools in the Akron Public Schools. The high s ...

in Akron, where he took art classes as part of the school's fine arts program. Carney graduated from the

Columbus College of Art and Design Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) is a private art school in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1879 as the Columbus Art School and is one of the oldest private art and design colleges in the United States. Located in downtown Columbus, CCAD ...

Work with The Black Keys

* ''

The Big Come Up ''The Big Come Up'' is the debut studio album by the American rock duo The Black Keys, released on May 14, 2002 on Alive Records. Background and recording The album was created in Akron, Ohio, also known as the Rubber City. As band members Da ...

'' (2002) – art director * ''

Thickfreakness ''Thickfreakness'' is the second studio album by American rock duo The Black Keys, released in 2003. It is their debut release for the Fat Possum record label, although in the UK and Europe it was co-released by Epitaph Records. Background The ...

'' (2003) – art director * ''

Rubber Factory ''Rubber Factory'' is the third studio album by American rock duo The Black Keys. It was self-produced by the band and was released on September 7, 2004, on Fat Possum Records. The album was recorded in an abandoned tire-manufacturing factory in ...

'' (2004) – art director * '' Magic Potion'' (2006) – art director * ''

Attack & Release ''Attack & Release'' is the fifth studio album by American rock duo The Black Keys. It was produced by Danger Mouse and was released on April 1, 2008. The sessions saw the band transitioning away from their "homemade" ethos to record-making; not ...

'' (2008) – art director * ''

'' (2010) – art director * '' El Camino'' (2011) – art director * '' Turn Blue'' (2014) – art director * '' Let's Rock'' (2019) – art * ''

Delta Kream ''Delta Kream'' is the tenth album by American rock duo the Black Keys, released through Easy Eye Sound and Nonesuch Records on May 14, 2021. It is a cover album of hill country blues songs. It was preceded by the April 15 release of a cover of ...

'' (2021) – art director

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Carney, Michael 1982 births Living people American art directors American photographers Columbus College of Art and Design alumni Grammy Award winners