Faculty

Ria Lewerke

President and Creative Director at RIA Images

Award–winning Art Director/Designer Ria Lewerke is currently President and Creative Director of the design firm RIA Images. Clients have included: Matchbox 20, Tori Amos, Dave Matthews Band, Ozzy Ozbourne, and corporate clients MCA Publishing and Virgin Records. Her 30–year career in the entertainment industry has included executive positions at RCA Records (Sr. VP Creative Services and Video), BMG Music as well as independent work with clients like Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and Electric Light Orchestra.

Ria is a multi-recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award, elected by the FIDM Students. Among industry awards, she has received Grammy nominations and over 20 RIAA Gold and Platinum Awards.

What does your work with an artist like Paul McCartney entail? For a few select artists on the level of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Paul McCartney, I am commissioned to oversee complete imaging which includes photo sessions, album art, print advertising, and outdoor advertising.

Who are some of the famous photographers you have worked with? The list reads like a who’s who of photography: Richard Avedon, George Hurrell, William Claxton, Herb Ritz, Dean Karr and Moshe Brakha. I’ve been lucky to have good budgets.

What are some of your more interesting recent projects? I’m excited to have designed the poster for the 2019 release of Director Perry Henzell’s The Harder They Come and his second feature film, No Place Like Home. We did a new design for Rob Thomas’ tour book, and I appeared in A$AP Rocky’s latest video “Babushka.”

Please Note: The information contained herein was confirmed at the time of original publication.

Categories:  Graphic Design Faculty