School of Visual Arts Presents

Exhibition of Typographic Work from 60 Artists

Curated by Debbie Millman

Look Both Ways: The Illicit Liaison Between Image and Information

August 24 – September 21, 2019

Reception: Friday, September 6, 6:00 – 8:00pm

SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th Floor, New York City

June 17, 2019, New York, NY—School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents Look Both Ways: The Illicit Liaison Between Image and Information, a new exhibition curated by Debbie Millman, chair of the MPS Branding program at SVA. This exhibition brings together a wide range of typographic work from 60 individual artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shepard Fairey, Dave Eggers, Deborah Kass, Jenny Holzer, Miranda July, Kim Gordon, and more, from Millman’s personal collection and beyond. Look Both Ways is free and open to the public, and will be on view from August 24 through September 21 at the SVA Chelsea Gallery.

Look Both Ways showcases the many ways in which words, text and information influence art, design, literature and music. Bold typographic expression has become the cultural currency of communication and the centerpiece of connection. Objects and experiences all around us now contain an inscription, an impression or a point of view. Our bodies, clothing, public events, sports, politics and even the products we consume have given people, by way of social media and the Internet, an instantaneous way to communicate globally. On an intimately personal level, tattoos have assumed the atavistic power that religious amulets once had to convey messages about ourselves, with the immediate power of images and words. This dynamic is evident today in all disciplines of visual communications, reflecting the condition of our culture.

The works in this exhibition come largely from Millman’s own personal collection of text-based art. In addition to her work as an educator and leader at SVA, Millman is an acclaimed designer, writer, and strategist and has been hosting her "Design Matters" podcast for more than 14 years.

“I am thrilled to partner with SVA to share this selection of typography works from a group of innovative and outspoken artists, several from my own personal collection,” said curator and MPS Branding chair Debbie Millman. “This exhibition is a stark reminder of the power language has to rule all facets of culture. These works will undoubtedly incite many passionate discussions.”

SVA will host an opening reception at the gallery on Friday, September 6, 6:00 – 8:00pm. For more information, visit the SVA website.

The SVA Chelsea Gallery, located at 601 West 26th Street, 15th floor, is open Monday through Thursday 10:00am – 6:00pm, Saturdays 10:00am – 6:00pm, and Fridays 10:00am – 4:00pm. After Labor Day, open Monday through Saturday, 10:00am – 6:00pm. The gallery will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 2. It is fully accessible by wheelchair. For more information, call 212.592.2145.