Sylvia Reed ( second wife of the late recording artist, songwriter and musician Lou Reed), was integral to Lou’s life and work during the many years they spent together. Sylvia managed Lou’s career, as well as collaborating with him in co-designing album covers, performance set design and design for films during what was arguably the most prolific period of his art and life, 1977 through 1994.
Sylvia was key to the cover design for “The Blue Mask”, as well as influencing the music itself through bringing key musicians into the project. “Songs For Drella”, (an album Lou Reed and John Cale created as a tribute to Andy Warhol) resulted in a Grammy nomination for the album artwork, co-designed by Sylvia Reed and Tom Recchion. Sylvia worked closely with art directors Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz on album artwork and packaging for the “New York” album, “Magic and Loss” and the Velvet Underground Reunion performance album (“Live MCMXCIII”). The book “Between Thought and Expression”, a compilation of lyrics by Lou Reed published on the Hyperion imprint was another project that saw Sylvia collaborating with Drate/Salavetz on the cover design. Sylvia was the Co-Executive Producer of the “Sweet Relief” album, (as well as once again working with Drate/Salavetz on the CD packaging and related works) for a benefit album with various artists (including Lou, Pearl Jam, Jayhawks, Soul Asylum among others) performing the work of Victoria Williams, who needed help with medical bills related to her MS.
Sylvia Reed lives in New York.