Grammy official artwork

ART FOR ART’S SAKE: Graphic designer Masaki Koike has been selected to create the official artwork for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards (2/13/11). The piece will be on the cover of the program book, telecast tickets and promo poster, and will be the primary design element for the 2011 Grammy Nominees CD. Said art connoisseur Neil Portnow: "From his album covers to his box set designs, Masaki's colorful and energetic work truly captures the spirit of music and its creators. We are proud to have such a talented artist of his caliber and passion involved in this year's Grammy celebrations." Koike, formerly art director at Rhino, won a 2007 Grammy for his work on What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves (1967–1977), and received two more noms for Black Sabbath's The Dio Years (2007) and Phish's The Clifford Ball (2009). In 2008, he founded Pasadena-based Phyx Design. (12/1a)