Edley ODowd

American drummer

Edley ODowd is a New York-based graphic designer, musician and typographer. ODowd was a member of British band Psychic TV 3[1] since 2003,[2] as the drummer and designer who created all the band's album covers, records, posters, books, apparel and branding for the group, led by Genesis P-Orridge.[3] As one of Genesis P-Orridge's closest confidants, he carries on the band's legacy through books, art exhibitions and public lectures.[4]

As an artist and designer, he has designed books, album covers and exhibitions, with the most recent one at Lethal Amounts Gallery in Los Angeles in 2017 entitled Discipline: The Art Of Psychic TV, 2003 – 2016.[5]

ODowd introduced Genesis P-Orridge to h/er wife Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge in 1995.[6]

## Biography[edit]

ODowd graduated from Purchase College in New York and has worked since 1997[7] on music design and has taught graphic design as a professor at Purchase College, as well as Parsons School of Design in New York, festivals like South By Southwest and museums like the Rubin Museum of Art in New York.[8]

In 2003, ODowd urged P-Orridge to rekindle her desire to perform and create music as Psychic TV.[9] It led to the duo collaborating for the next 14 years as Psychic TV.[10] ODowd is also a DJ.[11]

As a designer, ODowd's music packaging design influences include Neville Brody, Vaughan Oliver and Peter Saville.[12] "Having been trained in graphic design in an age where computers were new and considered an additional tool, rather than the only tool, when I entered the workforce, I only knew the basics of one program and 80% of the work was still done by hand," he said.[13]

## Exhibitions[edit]

His book "Discipline: The Art of Psychic TV: 2003 – 2016' was published in 2017,[14] showcasing all the artwork from Psychic TV from 2003 until 2016 with a foreword written by Genesis P-Orridge. Genesis P-Orridge once called ODowd's design work a "fastidious methodology" and "working his magic on anything and everything that might add to the unique cascade of original, ever-more-groundbreaking combinations."[15]

ODowd's design work explores the relationship between iconography, pattern and design. "I think that design is a conduit for creating a powerful cultural shift and over the years I have been creating works that grow and evolve as we evolve; a memetic spiral outward from the place where it all began. It's matching this concept of design and graphic repetition to a kind of religious rite. It's sacred art on many levels," said ODowd. "It's more than just creating an image, as this repetition gives power to a symbol, to an idea. I want to explore the application of pattern and graphic to everyday objects.[16]"

## Filmography[edit]

ODowd stars as a subject in the biopic The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, a 2011 film directed by Marie Losier,[17] which won a Teddy Award for Best Documentary.[18]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Leland, John (2020-03-14). "Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Musician, Artist and Provocateur, Dies at 70". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
2. ^ "Psychic TV and Throbbing Gristle co-founder Genesis Breyer P-Orridge ponders the role of the artist in chaotic times". Los Angeles Times. 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
3. ^ Savage, Mark (2020-03-15). "Throbbing Gristle's Genesis P-Orridge dies aged 70". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
4. ^ "Genesis P-Orridge, pioneering artist and musician, has died, aged 70". www.theartnewspaper.com. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
5. ^ "Check Out an Excerpt of Edley ODowd's New Book on Psychic TV". TIDAL Magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
6. ^ "Lady Jaye Breyer P-orridge". The Independent. 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
7. ^ ODowd, Edley (2020-04-07). "Edley ODowd". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
8. ^ "Psychic TV-Genesis Breyer P-Orridge | Rubin Museum of Art". rubinmuseum.org. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
9. ^ Pearis, Bill. "Psychic TV announce new LP 'Alienist' & reissue of 'Force the Hand of Chance,' touring". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
10. ^ "Psychic TV and Throbbing Gristle co-founder Genesis Breyer P-Orridge ponders the role of the artist in chaotic times". Los Angeles Times. 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
11. ^ "Inside Sunnyvale, the East Williamsburg Venue Where DIY's Gone Legit". Bedford + Bowery. 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
12. ^ Sayej, Nadja (2020-07-23). "Psychic TV, Rock Merch and Ghost Texting: Spotlight On Edley ODowd". Threadless Blog. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
13. ^ Sayej, Nadja (2020-07-23). "Psychic TV, Rock Merch and Ghost Texting: Spotlight On Edley ODowd". Threadless Blog. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
14. ^ "Edley ODowd of Psychic TV: Interview". Never Apart. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
15. ^ "Check Out an Excerpt of Edley ODowd's New Book on Psychic TV". TIDAL Magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
16. ^ "Perfect Sound Forever: Edley O'Dowd of Psychic TV- interview". www.furious.com. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
17. ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (2012-03-08). "The Things They Did for Love (and Attention)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
18. ^ Renninger, Bryce J. (2011-02-19). "Berlinale 2011 | Teddy Awards Announce Best in Queer Film". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-08-26.

## External links[edit]

* Obituary of Genesis P-Orridge by Edley ODowd
* Edley ODowd at IMDb
* Facebook page