Introduction
Michael Carney (born January 9, 1982) is an American art director, sculptor, and photographer. He is best known for his extensive work with the rock band the Black Keys, for whom his brother Patrick is the drummer. A graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design, Michael has been the band's art director from the beginning, 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. The cover of the album states, simply, "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 article, "The Incredible, Inevitable Shrinking Album Cover" by David Browne.
In 2011, The Black Keys released El Camino. The look for the album was about capturing "the spirit of doing it the wrong way"- a tag line initially verbalized by Carney. 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, a multi-instrument musician perhaps best known for his work with Tom Waits, died Dec. 16, 2017, after sustaining head injuries as the result of falling down steps in his Portland, Oregon, home.
Carney's father is a retired longtime Akron (OH) Beacon Journal reporter. His mother, Mary Stormer, is an Akron Municipal Court deputy clerk. His stepfather is Barry Stormer. His grandmother is Katie Byard Carney.
Carney graduated from the Columbus (Ohio) College of Art and Design. In Akron, he graduated from Firestone High School, where he took art classes as part of the school's fine arts program.
Work with The Black Keys
- The Big Come Up (2002) – Art Director
- Thickfreakness (2003) – Art Director
- Rubber Factory (2004) – Art Director
- Magic Potion (2006) – Art Director
- Attack & Release (2008) – Art Director
- Brothers (2010) – Art Director
- El Camino (2011) – Art Director
- Turn Blue (2014) – Art Director
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Brothers | Best Recording Package | Won |