Geoff McFetridge has been called “the most famous Canadian artist you’ve never heard of.” As a graphic artist and painter, he’s collaborated with directors such as Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola, designed for brands like Nike and Apple, and created huge murals for Ottawa’s transit system.
In a rare interview with Q‘s Tom Power, McFetridge discusses how the DIY culture of skateboarding in Calgary influenced him to get into art, how he ended up designing the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal magazine, and how he keeps one foot in the world of art galleries and one foot in the world of corporate design.
Follow along with the artist’s conversation with Power using this visual companion guide.
Beastie Boys’ magazine
One of McFetridge’s first jobs out of art school was working with the hip-hop group Beastie Boys. In 1995, he landed a job as the art director for the trio’s short-lived magazine, Grand Royal.
Painting
Eventually, McFetridge started his own studio and developed his own style. There’s a simplicity to the way he draws — his work says a lot with just a few shapes and colours.
Brand collaborations
McFetridge’s clear visual language seems to work really well commercially. He’s collaborated with brands like Nike, Uniqlo and Hermes. You can find a list of his corporate design work here.
Movies
McFetridge has worked on films like The Virgin Suicides and Being John Malkovich, but his biggest film job was Spike Jonze’s Her. The 2013 sci-fi romance is about a man who falls in love with his virtual assistant, and McFetridge designed the look and feel of all of the technology seen on screen.
Ottawa’s Lyon Station/Station Lyon
Of all the projects he’s done, the one that really gets McFetridge emotional is a big mural he created for an Ottawa transit station.
The full interview with Geoff McFetridge is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Interview with Geoff McFetridge produced by Vanessa Greco.