London-based artist Olaolu Slawn has created an alternative vinyl cover for Michael: Songs from the Motion Picture, released alongside Michael on April 24th, 2026. Spanning thirteen tracks from the The Jackson 5 years to Michael Jackson’s solo era, the soundtrack now arrives with a striking new visual identity.
The commission marks a sharp departure for Slawn, known for spray-painted figures and raw cartoon-like imagery. Here, he turns to oil paint for the first time, producing a heavily textured portrait of a young Michael Jackson charged with vulnerability and distortion. Referencing drawings made by Jackson himself, the work feels less like celebrity iconography than a fractured contemporary relic.
Speaking about the piece, Slawn said: “I referenced some of the artworks Michael done himself. My first oil painting had to be for the most important artist ever face, first and last time I’ll be doing that.”
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael stars Jaafar Jackson alongside Colman Domingo and Nia Long. The soundtrack revisits defining recordings including Billie Jean, Thriller, and Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough, while Slawn’s cover channels the same collision of myth, nostalgia, and reinvention.
With collaborations spanning fashion, sport, and contemporary art, Olaolu Slawn has become one of the most unpredictable voices of his generation. Read our interview exploring identity, rebellion, personal mythology, and the energy that drives his work.
Courtesy of OLAOLU SLAWN
