Artists & Designers Czeslaw Slania - The Engraver In 1993, the Swedish Post Office issued a series of stamps engraved by Czeslaw Slania. The stamps featuring Swedish musicians, one of which was ABBA. Links: Bio from Art on Stamps ABBA - The Stamp from ABBA Etc. provides an image of first day issue cover, and discriptive copy adapted from the Swedish Post Office discribing the featured musicians. The Horror! The 1975 Swedish version of ABBA's Greatest Hits featured an illustration by Hans Arnold, which included Stig Anderson popping out from Benny's piano. Hans, born in Switzerland in 1925, lives in Stockholm. The subjects of his horror illustrations contrast with that of his children's illustrations. He has also illustrated CD covers for Swedish groups Spiritual Beggars, Whistler & Wolf. hansarnold.com has a wonderful gallery of images and information about a recent book of his work. Unfortunately for those of us that don't speak Swedish yet, the book nor the site are available in English. A New Way to B Rune Söderqvist was elemental in creating the ABBA logo and most of the original album cover designs. He is represented through EURAN where an example of his painting and his biography can be viewed. Hotpants & Satin Owe Sandström was largely responsible for the design of most of ABBA's costumes. A June 2001 interview with Owe is on a mirror archive of who.com. Viperfemme I found this image, Viperfemme, from airbrush artist, Punz Wolf. Quite a departure from the 1984 cover art for I Love ABBA. New Directions ABBA - The Site highlights collaborators with ABBA, including Lasse Hallström. He directed the majority of ABBA's music videos. In 1977 he directed ABBA - The Movie. He went on to direct a number of successful films and is an academy award nominee. I found a couple of interviews online including this one at BBCi and one at iofilm. Rotten Tomatoes has a number of reviews, images and information on the director and his films. An Unfinished Life is on of Lasse's latest projects which is now in theatres in the U.S. The cast includes Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere, Robert Redford & Morgan Freeman. The plot, more details and even a message board can be found at IMBd. ABBA - The Site has How The ABBA Videos Were Made in their In Focus section. Orange Julius The work of Swedish painter Julius Kronberg (1850-1921) was featured in the photo cover of ABBA's 1981 LP The Visitors. The large painting of the Greek god of love, Eros, looms over the four contemplative members. Dramatic warm lighting transforms the painting, making it feel ominous. I really like this image and hope to add more to this site about Kronberg and The Visitors. An ABBA Souvenir The 1974 Waterloo album featured Souvenir Light Italic, designed by Ed Benguiat for ITC in the early '70s, based on the original (single weight with no italic) version by Morris Fuller Benton in 1914. Souvenir Light Italic can be purchased at a number of sites including ITC. Frida Be Whomever She Wants Yves Poyet - French Artist, illustrated a youthful Frida for cover of Something's Going On in the early '80s. More info on the artist to come. Diverse Means of Expression Marie-Louise Eckman has exchanged creative talents with Benny Andersson. She illustrated his November 1989 CD (below). He composed music for her film Puder in 2001. Marie-Louise works in diverse mediums and media including painting, glass (example to right), film & costume design. I found this interview which was conducted by fellow artist Jan Svenungsson.