The MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction is a craft award given to both the artist as well as the art director of the music video. From 1984 to 2006, the award's full name was Best Art Direction in a Video, and after a brief removal in 2007, its name was shortened to its current form starting in 2008. The biggest winners are K. K. Barrett and Jan Houllevigue, both of whom won this award twice.
The most nominated art director is Tom Foden, who was nominated five times between 1993 and 2021. Closely following him are Charles Infante, Ethan Tobman, Laura Fox, and K. K. Barrett with four nominations each; and Bryan Jones and Nigel Phelps with three.
The performer whose videos have won the most awards is Red Hot Chili Peppers with three. Lady Gaga, Madonna and Taylor Swift tie as the performers with the most nominations, at four each.
No performer has won a Moonman in this category for their work as an art director. Jamie Hewlett, Jack White, SZA and A$AP Rocky are the only performers to have been nominated as their videos' art directors in this category.
Recipients 1980s Year Winner(s) Work Nominees Ref. and Godley & Creme "Rockit" "The Boys of Summer" "Rough Boy" "Sledgehammer" and Mick Edwards "Hourglass" and Vance Lorenzini "Express Yourself"
1990s Year Winner(s) Work Nominees Ref. "Love Shack" "Losing My Religion" and Robertino Mazati "Give It Away" "Rain" "Heart-Shaped Box" "Scream" and Wayne White "Tonight, Tonight" "The New Pollution" "Bachelorette" "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
2000s Year Winner(s) Work Nominees Ref. "Californication" "Weapon of Choice" "Trouble" "There There" "Hey Ya!" "What You Waiting For?" "Dani California" colspan="5" and Kells Jesse "Run" "Paparazzi"
2010s Year Winner(s) Work Nominees Ref. and Aldene Johnson "Dog Days Are Over" "Rolling in the Deep" "Wide Awake" "Q.U.E.E.N." "Reflektor" and Jason Fijal "So Many Pros" "Blackstar" "HUMBLE." Jan Houllevigue and the Louvre "Apeshit" John Richoux "7 Rings"
2020s Year Winner(s) Work Nominees Ref. Christian Stone "Mother's Daughter" Alec Contestabile "Best Friend" Alex Delgado "Industry Baby" Spencer Graves "Attention" Brittany Porter "Boa" Wesley Goodrich "Abracadabra" Furmaan Ahmed "Stateside + Zara Larsson"
Art Director Statistics Multiple wins 2 wins Jan Houllevigue K. K. Barrett Spencer Graves
Multiple nominations 5 nominations Tom Foden
4 nominations Charles Infante Ethan Tobman K. K. Barrett Laura Fox
3 nominations Alexander Delgado Brittany Porter Bryan Jones Nigel Phelps
2 nominations Benji Bamps Freyja Bardell Godley & Creme Happy Massee Jan Houllevigue Jan Peter Flack Jason Fijal Jason Kisvarday Jim Blashfield John Richoux José Montaño Kim Colefax Kristen Vallow Lynn-Maree Milburn Michel Gondry Nicholas des Jardins Regan Jackson Spencer Graves Steven Barron Tatiana Van Sauter Teri Whittaker Vance Lorenzini Zach Matthews
Artist Statistics Multiple wins 3 wins Red Hot Chili Peppers
2 wins Doja Cat Lady Gaga Madonna
Multiple nominations 7 nominations Lady Gaga Madonna Taylor Swift
5 nominations Beyoncé
4 nominations Aerosmith Charli XCX Katy Perry
3 nominations Adele Björk Doja Cat Drake Janet Jackson Kanye West Kendrick Lamar Lana Del Rey Lil Nas X Megan Thee Stallion Missy Elliott Red Hot Chili Peppers R.E.M.
2 nominations Bruno Mars Coldplay Dua Lipa Eminem Faith No More George Michael Gnarls Barkley INXS Janelle Monáe Michael Jackson Miley Cyrus Nine Inch Nails Rihanna SZA The White Stripes Thirty Seconds to Mars TLC
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