The Poster House - Graphic Arts in New York City

-


 

The Poster House is quickly becoming one of my favorite museums in New York City. It offers deep dive exhibits into the production and use of graphic arts around specific themes. On my last visit they were exploring the history of the Push Pin Agency and a second show on the posters and music of the era of Blaxploitation films. Currently, the Poster House is hosting two shows that explore both history and culture.

Puerto Rico in Print: The Posters of Lorenzo Homar (through Sept. 7 2025)



Lorenzo Homar (1913-2004) was a Puerto Rican artist who helped found and /or worked in three of the island’s major graphics workshops: Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño; División de Educación a la Comunidad, which was tasked by the government with producing materials for public cultural education; and the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña.




Born in Puerto Rico, Homar’s family moved to New York City when he was fifteen years old. Due to the family’s financial needs, Lorenzo went to work in a textile factory. In his free time, Lorenzo studied at the Art Students League and at Pratt Institute before joining the U.S. Army during WWII. After the war he returned to New York, and studied at The Brooklyn Museum of Art. In 1950 Lorenzo returned to Puerto Rico, where he became one of the island’s premier print makers.




Homar produced posters for many different historical and cultural events. From the centennial of the Grito de Lares to advertisements for films and performances to the 1976 Pan American Games, which were held in Puerto Rico, Homar worked on many different themes and topics during a career that spanned over fifty years.






Fallout: Atoms for War & Peace (through Sept. 7, 2025)



The main exhibit at The Poster House is Fallout. After WWII, an era of atomic exploration started. Countries around the world began to develop systems of atomic weapons and nuclear energy. There also arose a response of organizations whose members were concerned about the effects of this new energy source. Both sides began to produce posters to put their ideas out to the population at large.


Let's Stop This by Hans Erni  (Swiss 1949)

Atom/The Work of Peace by Ruben Vasilievich Suryaninov (U.S.S.R. 1959)

We Will Stand Aganist Those Who Organize Atomic War by Lev Haas (Czechoslovakia 1955)


One of the largest proponents of Atomic Energy was the U.S. company General Dynamics. They were, and still are, one of the largest defense contractors in the country, with a long history of building naval vessels. In the 1950’s and 60’s they moved quickly into producing nuclear powered ships, especially submarines and aircraft carriers. In an effort to win the publicity war as the fears of nuclear power grew, General Dynamics began to produce posters, graphics and books that promoted the “peaceful” use of atomic power.



General Dynamics/Nucleodynamics by Erik Nitsche (U.S.A. 1955)

General Dynamics/Triga by Erik Nitsche (U.S.A. 1958)

General Dynamics/Hydrodynamics by Erik Nitsche (U.S.A. 1955

Postcards created from General Dynamics posters

 

At the same time, the increased use of nuclear power and the development of new and more powerful weapons, created a public outcry. Around the world local groups organized for a halt to the testing of atomic bombs, and calling for an end to the use of nuclear power plants. They also created artwork to publicize their cause. 


Gone With the Wind by Bob Light & John Houston (U.S.A. 1985)

Stop the Neutron Bomb by unknown (U.S.A. 1978)

Stop H-Bomb Tests by Ben Shahn (U.S.A. 1960)


The Poster House always brings shows that are topical and thought provoking. It is always worth a visit.

Nuts and Bolts


  • Poster House is located at 119 W 23rd Street, New York City.
  • It is open from Thur - Sun 10 AM - 6 PM (9 PM on Friday)
  • Tickets are $15 adults/ $10 students, educators, veterans, seniors
  • Fridays are always free for everyone
Location: 119 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Flushing Meadows Park and the Museums of Queens

-
Image
Many people visit New York City, and never leave the island of Manhattan, except when they fly into or out of one of our airports. That is a shame. The four other boroughs of the city offer a treasure trove of museums and galleries to enjoy. One great place to visit is Flushing Meadows - Corona Park in Queens. Flushing Meadows is near the eastern border of Queens, and it takes about half-an-hour to get there from mid-town. It is a trip worth taking. The park was created in the early 1930’s to provide Queens with a park to rival Central Park, and it is a beautiful place. It is most famous for hosting two world’s fairs, in 1939-40 and in 1964-65. Today it is home to the USTA National Tennis Center, home to the U.S. Open, a small zoo, a botanical garden, and to two museums, both with ties to those world’s Fairs. The Unisphere The Unisphere and the NY State Pavilion The Queens Museum is an art museum that occupies the New York City Pavilion, built for the 1939 fair. From ...
Read more

Art by Women at New York's MOMA

-
Image
The Prisoners by Käthe Kollwitz   In New York City, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is the home for art created from the 1880’s through today. Its permanent collection and the temporary exhibits cover a wide range of genres and styles. Currently, there are three special exhibitions, all featuring female artists. They span over 100 years of art history, yet all offer a view of the world through a woman’s struggles. Joan Jonas - Good Night Good Morning Joan Jonas (b. 1936) has been a pioneer of performance and video art for close to sixty years. She originally trained as a sculptor, but living on the lower East Side of New York City brought her into the avant-garde art movement in the 1960’s. Her first foray into performance art was a series of dance exhibitions titled Mirror Pieces. Dancers performed in spaces while holding large mirrors. The mirrors were moved so that they shifted between reflections of the dancers and the audience. Mirror Pieces by Joan Jonas   Shortly afte...
Read more

Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, New York

-
Image
    Rochester, NY, is a wonderful small city with some some very nice museums. The Strong Museum offers a history of toys and games. Eastman House provides an excellent showcase for photography and film. On a recent trip I visited the city’s primary art museum - The Memorial Art Gallery. Statue of Venus Obliterated by Infinity Nets by Yayoi Kusama   The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) is part of Rochester University, and has been home to art in the city since 1913. While it had no permanent home collection to start, over the years many prominent Rochester residents have left their collections to the MAG, and today there are over 12,000 works of art in its permanent collection. This collection makes up most of the exhibits at the MAG. Portrait of a Young Man in an Armchair by Rembrandt. On display as part of an exhibit on forensic resotration   First, there is the European collection, which resides in the older section of the museum. Here you find some great pictures by ma...
Read more