Pasadena Artist Paints Custom Guitar for Phoebe Bridgers
Local painter John Griswold transformed a vintage Gibson guitar for musician Phoebe Bridgers in 2026.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Painting
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In 2026, Pasadena-based artist John Griswold unveiled a custom-painted vintage Gibson guitar for musician Phoebe Bridgers. The artwork, which features imagery based on childhood photos of Bridgers's late father, was commissioned for her album, Lost Weekend.
Why it matters
The project represents a unique collaboration between a visual artist and a musician, blending found-object restoration with personal allegory. By integrating original instrument wear into the design, Griswold elevated the guitar beyond its functional purpose.
John Griswold used oil paints mixed with an alkyd medium to complete the project. The guitar, which debuted on The Tonight Show, is part of a larger collaboration including a lyric book for the song Still Standing and the album cover for Lost Weekend.
The players
John Griswold
John Griswold is a professional painter based in Pasadena who specializes in blending fine art techniques with found-object restoration.
Phoebe Bridgers
Phoebe Bridgers is a prominent musician and singer-songwriter known for her critically acclaimed studio albums and artistic collaborations.
The details
Griswold incorporated the guitar's existing cracks and surface wear into his painting, treating the vintage instrument as a found object. Beyond the guitar, he also provided custom artwork for Bridgers's lyric book and the cover for her third album, Lost Weekend.
Timeline
December 2022: Phoebe Bridgers initiated contact with John Griswold via Instagram.
2026: The custom guitar made its official debut on The Tonight Show.
Culture Shift
This project reflects the growing trend of musicians utilizing bespoke physical artifacts to create a deeper narrative connection with their audience. It mirrors the broader move away from digital-only promotion toward tangible, highly personalized visual identities for new album releases.
For local art enthusiasts, this project highlights the high-level custom work being produced within the Pasadena creative community. It serves as a practical example of how traditional oil painting techniques can be applied to non-canvas surfaces like vintage musical instruments.
The takeaway
Artists can find new audiences by treating everyday objects like vintage instruments as surfaces for personal storytelling. Consider how your own creative projects might incorporate existing wear or history to add deeper emotional resonance to the final result.
Further reading
Explore more artistic endeavors and techniques at the Painting section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hyperallergic.
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