Alex Steinweiss (1917–2011) transformed the way we see and experience recorded music. As a young art director at Columbia Records, he challenged the industry’s plain, utilitarian record packaging and introduced colorful, expressive artwork that turned the album cover into a new form of graphic design. His bold typography, modern illustration, vivid color, and visual wit defined a new era of music packaging and influenced generations of designers. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Steinweiss helped establish the album cover as a major part of the musical experience and changed the visual language of recorded music.
Come see the newly installed exhibit “Alex Steinweiss: Inventor of the Album Cover” on the third floor of Miller Nichols Library, in the Special Collections Gallery. There are also a series of physical albums on display, courtesy of Marr Sound Archives. The exhibit will be on display through December, 2026.
View the exhibit during library open hours. Metered parking is available in the parking lot north of the library, located at 800 E. 51st Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110.
