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Jean Jass and Jungle Jack, 2025
Cognacs & Cigarettes
Label: Back in the Days
For this album, I was responsible for the complete art direction, translating the collaborative spirit of Jungle Jack and Jean Jass into a cohesive visual identity for the Cognacs & Cigarettes vinyl release.
The central illustration depicts a lone, personified plant—representing Jungle Jack—thriving in a vast desert. This figure is shown smoking, positioned beside the skeletal frame of a piano, which stands for Jean Jass. The scene is a potent symbol of their artistry: finding the richness of a "jazz lounge" in the middle of nowhere, creating soulful hip-hop from the bare essentials.
This core metaphor of resilient life in a sparse environment informed the entire design, extending to the choice of clear vinyl. The transparent material echoes the stark, minimalist beauty of the artwork, presenting a world where beauty and rhythm are forged from simplicity and grit.
Dexter Maurer
Photo: Luana Maurer
About
Dexter Maurer is an illustrator and art director specializing in translating cultural narratives into compelling visual worlds. His work builds a bridge between iconic brands and the nuanced language of contemporary illustration, crafting images that are both immediately striking and rich with story.
With a distinct style that blends graphic sensibility with narrative depth, he collaborates with clients like Nike, The New Yorker, and Jordan Brand to define the visual identity of their most ambitious campaigns. His process involves deconstructing themes of music, sport, and culture to their core metaphors, reassembling them into illustrations that resonate on an intuitive level.
Whether developing the art direction for an entire album campaign or creating a single, iconic loading screen for Fortnite, his focus is on constructing a cohesive and resonant visual universe for every project.