Galerie ABF

Prague, Czech Republic

October 1 – October 31, 2019

October 2019—New York, NY—School of Visual Arts, in association with Galerie ABF in Prague, Czech Republic presents “Underground Images: School of Visual Arts Subway Posters, 1947 to the Present.” This special exhibition in Prague brings together 63 of the myriad posters created at SVA for display in the vast New York City subway system, offering a glimpse of the history of the College and the collective talent of its acclaimed design and illustration faculty. Curated by SVA Executive Vice President Anthony P. Rhodes, who has served as creative director for the posters since 2007, the exhibition will be on view at Galerie ABF, Wenceslas Square 31, Prague 1, Czech Republic.

Beginning in the mid-1950s, SVA was in the vanguard of academic institutions in the U.S. to recognize the need for alternative marketing strategies to attract new students. SVA took to the platforms of New York City’s subway with advertising posters that were both thought-provoking and eye-catching, featuring the work of legendary artists like Ivan Chermayeff, Milton Glaser and George Tscherny. All practicing professionals on the faculty at SVA, they used the poster commission to explore what it means to be an artist and hone their own creative voice. Like the College itself, the SVA subway posters have become in some way inseparable from the city as an incitement to creativity and risk taking.

This exhibition presents highlights from the full collection of 200 posters produced by the School of Visual Arts. Among the current and former faculty members who have designed this selection of 63 posters are Gail Anderson, Marshall Arisman, Chris Buzelli, Gene Case, Ivan Chermayeff, Paul Davis, Pablo Delcan, Sal DeVito, Louise Fili, Audrey Flack, Nathan Fox, Bob Gill, Robert Giusti, Milton Glaser, Phil Hays, Steven Heller, Mirko Ilić, Viktor Koen, Stephen Kroninger, Marvin Mattelson, James McMullan, Jerry Moriarty, Tony Palladino, Edel Rodriguez, Stefan Sagmeister, David Sandlin, Paula Scher, Yuko Shimizu, Eve Sonneman, George Tscherny, James Victore and Robert Weaver.

“Underground Images” is organized by SVA faculty member Mirko Ilić and Francis Di Tommaso, director, SVA Galleries. For more information about the exhibition and its full list of contributors, visit sva.edu/about/exhibitions/traveling-exhibitions/underground-images.