Congratulations to artist, designer, and director Randee St. Nicholas, who received an honorary degree from the Academy of Art University this week.
Trained as a painter, the photographer, designer, and music video director has worked with just about everyone, from Britney Spears to Whitney Houston. St. Nicholas started her career when a friend of The Knack (the band behind the 1979 hit song “My Sharona”) summoned St. Nicholas to snap a few photos for their album, which soon topped the charts and sent her stock soaring. It led her to work with Elisa Fiorillo, a backup vocalist on Prince’s Graffiti Bridge and Batman, on her I Am album cover. Prince was enamored by the image, and asked St. Nicholas to shoot his cover art for Diamonds and Pearls - which sparked a legendary 25-year long partnership. In addition to various album covers, print advertisements, and commercial campaigns, her work has been featured in many magazine publications including Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Elle Girl Japan, Time, Glamour, Entertainment Weekly, Fashion and Flaunt.