The Book

Boyd Elder: Artlaw
The Greatest Artist You’ve Never Heard of

Art and music lovers may not know Boyd Elder by name. But untold multitudes worldwide recognize the iconic animal skull art and lightning-bolt lettering the Texas “artlaw” created for the covers of three multi-million-selling Eagles albums: “One of These Nights” in 1975, “Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975” in 1976, and “The Very Best Of…” two-CD anthology in 2003.

Visually reflecting the expanse, ruggedness, and multicultural makeup of the American Southwest, Elder’s Americana style has permeated the cultural zeitgeist in the shadows ever since. His style evokes a sense of familiarity; you recognize it when you see it.

Nicknamed “El Chingadero” by Chouinard Art Institute classmate Rick Griffin, Elder spent a lifetime expressing his artistic vision with often flagrant disregard for convention. He was always experimenting with new mediums, from plastics and resin to holographic foil and aluminum, from the animal skulls he was best-known for to large-format multi-media works he was developing before his death in 2018.

Now, in partnership with BMH Publishing and Ingram Content Group, Boyd Elder’s expansive works of art, and incredible artlaw story will be told in the way he’d always hoped—a beautifully crafted coffee table book featuring rare photos from his 1960’s Laurel Canyon, never-before-seen artwork, and incredible quotes and stories from the friends, musicians, and motley crew who knew him best.

The book will be released on Boyd’s birthday, January 12, 2023, benefitting in part, the Chouinard Foundation.