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  • Spotlight on Boris Bucan

    Boris Bucan

    Boris Bucan is one of Croatias most respected and highly regarded artists. His works offer the viewer an opportunity to experience a true master of poster art; often incorporating surrealist elements in his work, Bucan often uses colour and psychedelic patterning to attached the viewers attention.

    Born in 1947 Zagreb, Croatia, Bucan studied art, finally graduating in painting in 1972. During his study at the Academy of Plastic Arts, Bucan was introduced to the new art making technique of using photography, Polaroids, photocopies, film, video and graphic design. This new way of making art saw the shift from showing art in gallery spaces and instead gravitating towards public space as an act of resistance against the institutional infrastructure. Bucan first rose to prominence in Zagreb in the last 1960’s for his public art installations. Along with painting, Bucan maintained a prolific career as a graphic designer. This influence can be seen throughout his posters, especially in the posters Bucan designed for galleries, theatre, the Croatian Radio and Television, and National Theatre. This resulted in Bucan representing Yugoslavia at the Venice Biennale with a series of theatre posters.

    His works, often big and bold, is the sticking result of pushing the boundaries of what poster art and graphic design can be. Incorporating elements such as metallic gold, text which wraps around the edges of the poster and and contrasting colours, creates truly original and eye-catching posters. Letitia Morris Gallery has some of the most well known and sought after posters by Bucan. View our entire range here:

    View our entire range here:  Boris Bucan 

     

  • Alan Fletcher & IBM

    Alan Fletcher

    Alan Fletcher was one of the most important and most influential graphic designers to come out of Britain in the early 1960’s. His famous design for Pirelli would go on to revolutionise the British graphic design industry.

    Fletcher was born in Kenya in 1931 to a British family but moved to London at an early age. His creative talents would soon earn him a scholarship to Yale in America, where he was heavily influenced by American art and culture. After returning to London in 1960, Fletcher began consulting for clients like Time, Life, and Pirelli. His unique designs stood out for being totally original and eye-catching.

    “I try to solve their problems, but in solving their problems take an opportunity to find that extra twist that adds the magic.” The art posters he did for IBM are a good example of this. IBM asked him to design a placard for their new Paris headquarters, which said a painting would shortly arrive for the space on the wall occupied by the placard. In response he produced a series of posters interpreting the word “art” as defined by an author or artist, and added the line, ‘Quest for Quality: an IBM exhibition’ along the bottom of each poster. The artwork image for each poster was thoughtfully interpreted by Fletcher and in turn reflected his keen eye and sense of humour. Keeping each poster in greyscale and black and white unified the series thematically, each poster telling a unique story. By incorporating quotes by well-known figures such as F Scott Fitzgerald and Confucius to J.F. Kennedy, the posters remain universal as well as personal.

    View and our collection of Alan Fletcher IBM posters here:

    Marshall McLuhan Quest for Quality: an IBM exhibition - Alan Fletcher

    Marshall McLuhan Quest for Quality: an IBM exhibition – Alan Fletcher

    Emanuel Swedenborg Quest for Quality: an IBM exhibition - Alan Fletcher

    Emanuel Swedenborg Quest for Quality: an IBM exhibition – Alan Fletcher

    Jonathan Swift Quest for Quality: an IBM exhibition

    Jonathan Swift Quest for Quality: an IBM exhibition

     

  • Villemot Maquette

    Villemot Maquette

    Maquette is a French word meaning “sketch”, it is generally used to describe a preliminary drawing or designs of artworks or an artist concepts. Maquettes are generally intended to serve as rough models of larger designs. Architects make maquettes of their buildings, and sculptors often create maquettes in wax or clay to help them realise the final sculpture.

    In these maquettes by Villemot, we can see ideas forming around shape, colour, theme and design which are used in in his later finished works. These original gouache works are a a unique insight into the working mind of the artist. These works are in the not only rare but they offer a ‘behind the scenes’ look into some of the most well-known advertisements by Villemot known worldwide.

    Maquette is a French word meaning “sketch”, it is generally used to describe a preliminary drawing or designs of artworks or an artist concepts. Maquettes are generally intended to serve as rough models of larger designs. Architects make maquettes of their buildings, and sculptors often create maquettes in wax or clay to help them realise the final sculpture. In these maquettes by Villemot, we can see ideas forming around shape, colour, theme and design which are used in in his later finished works. These original gouache works are a a unique insight into the working mind of the artist. These works are in the not only rare but they offer a ‘behind the scenes’ look into some of the most well-known advertisements by Villemot known worldwide.

  • Keith Haring ‘Dolce Vita’

    Keith Haring ‘Dolce Vita’

    Keith Haring was an American artist best known for his street art and graffiti on the streets of New York in the 1980’s. Haring was a prominent figure in raising awareness to the AIDS epidemic and promoting safe sex education in the form of murals and posters. He was also instrumental in anti- drug campaigns by using his iconic imagery of faceless figures. Haring used rounded, curved patterning which made his designs seem non-authoritarian, friendly and educational. Many people often turned to Haring’s artwork for a sense of belonging and gay pride during heightened tensions around AIDS in the media.

    Haring created the design for the Dolce Vita nightclub in Switzerland, which was an alternative youth centre located in a former depot of a transport service. Dolce Vita was Lausanne’s rock-and-roll version of Studio 54. Dolce Vita in the 1980’s was one of the most popular clubs in Switzerland. The club culture was intrinsically linked to Harings’ work. His dancing figures and music notes often appearing in his designs. To capture the vibe of the place, Haring conjured these two wrestlers whose limbs create an abstract geometric form. The owners of the venue loved the design that they adopted his text as their official sign before closing in 1999.

  • Lichtenstein Moma 1989 Exhibition ‘I’d rather drown’

    Lichtenstein MoMa 1989 Exhibition ‘I’d rather drown’

    Lichtenstein Id Rather Drown MOMA poster original

    Lichtenstein Id Rather Drown MOMA poster original

    The “I’d Rather Drown” poster for MoMA is based on Roy Lichtenstein’s 1963 painting Drowning Girl, one of the most iconic works of Pop Art. The original painting, held in the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, depicts a woman submerged in turbulent water with the dramatic thought bubble, “I don’t care! I’d rather sink—than call Brad for help!” Inspired by romance comic book art, Lichtenstein used bold outlines, flat colors, and Ben-Day dots to mimic mass-produced printing while transforming it into high art. The MoMA poster, produced in the 1980s for a Lichtenstein retrospective, captures this powerful image and has become a sought-after collector’s piece. Often titled “I’d Rather Drown” after the painting’s dialogue, the poster embodies Lichtenstein’s witty commentary on love, drama, and the emotional depth hidden in pop culture imagery.

     

  • Peské’s L’Estampe et l’Affiche (1898)

    L’estampe et L’affiche 1898

    L'estampe et L'affiche Original Vintage Poster

    L’estampe et L’affiche Original Vintage Poster

    Jean Peské’s L’Estampe et l’Affiche (1898) is a stunning Art Nouveau lithographic poster created to promote the Parisian journal devoted to prints and posters. It depicts two women in vivid red and blue dresses gazing over a calm seaside landscape — a perfect harmony of colour, line, and elegance. Blending fine art and graphic design, Peské’s work captures the Belle Époque spirit and the era’s fascination with beauty in everyday art. Today, it’s celebrated as one of the most refined and collectible posters of its time.

    L'estampe et L'affiche Original Vintage Poster

    L’estampe et L’affiche Original Vintage Poster

     

     

  • Spotlight on Rene Gruau

    Rene Gruau

    Lido C’est Magnifique! Original Vintage Poster

    Born in Italy in 1909, Rene Gruau showed an interest in fashion and design from an early age. He published his first drawings at the age of 14, and by 18 his designs were printed in publications in Italy, England and Germany.

    In 1947, Gruau began working closely with Christian Dior, a name synonymous with sophistication and glamour.  The following year, Gruau travelled to the United States to work for Harper’s Bazar and Vogue. His unique and recognisable designs soon became known world-wide. His unforgettable posters advertising the Moulin Rouge and Lido show the breadth of Gruau’s drawing ability to capture movement, seductiveness and elegance. Adding to the list of brands Gruau designed for is Chanel, Givenchy, and Balenciaga. His timeless illustrations epitomise the fashion world in which Gruau surrounded himself in.

    Since his death in 2004, the posters and original designs Gruau produced for brands like Blizzand and Bemberg are now collectors items, illuminating his genius. Gruau is renowned for his contributions to fashion and advertising over the decades.

     

  • Jean-Paul Goude

    Jean-Paul Goude

     

    Jean-Paul Goude is a French photographer, art director, and illustrator. He is known for his diverse work which includes advertising, graphic design, and advertising film director. Jean-Paul Goude worked as an art director at Esquire magazine in New York during the 1970’s. In the early 1980’s Goude worked closely with American model-turned-pop-star, Grace Jones. Together they helped shaped  Grace Jones’ into an American icon. They created two of her most celebrated album covers, ‘Island Life’ and ‘Nightclubbing’.’

    ‘Nightclubbing‘ has been widely regarded as one of the most iconic album of all time.

    View and purchase GRACE JONES/NIGHTCLUBBING contemporary edition here! 

    Goude’s work is multi-faceted and includes many different styles and techniques, he adapts his aesthetics for each brand or personality he works with. Goude has contributed imagery to brands such as Chanel, Kenzo and Galeries Lafayette, among many others. His style is unmistakable, he is one of the most innovative photographers to date.  Goude’s works are in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York. He lives and works in Paris, France.

    View our collection of Galeries Lafayette posters here!

  • Roland Garros Posters

    Roland-Garros Original Posters

     

     

    The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is a tennis tournament organised by the French Tennis Federation annually at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. The French Tennis Federation and the Roland-Garros Championships Committee began a long-standing relationship with contemporary art in 1980 when they sought to create a connection between the competitive Tennis world, and the competitive art world. They partnered with Galerie Lelong & Co. to commission artists from around the world to create inspiring posters for the event. The first artist selected to represent the Roland Garros in a visual format was Valerio Adami in 1980. Best known for his bold Pop-Art style, he paved the way for artists to visually interpret the rich history and drama of the Roland-Garros.  The official posters of the Roland Garros have become a fascinating part of the history of the tournament, transforming it into a cultural symbol.

     

    View our collection of Roland Garros posters below!

     

    Roland Garros 1983 Original Vintage Poster

    1983 Roland Garros Vladimir Velickovic Original Vintage Poster

    Vladimir Velickovic was self-taught, interested in movement and specifically movement of the human body, this poster expresses the powerful athleticism of a tennis player in motion.

    Jacques Monory captures the player ready to serve, pointing upwards to the year, 1985, signalling a moment in time.

    Jiri Kolar was both a poet and and artist, in this poster for the 1986 Championship, Kolar combines his love of the written word with collage skills. The background features a map superimposed over tournament press clippings as a way of capturing the international nature of the sport.

    Pierre Alechinsky used his fascination with Japanese calligraphy to create this graphically experimental image using thick black lines and bold colour, the image surrounded by the iconic tennis ball.

    Nicola De Maria’s Roland-Garros 1989 poster is almost child-like in essence. A member of the Transavantgarde (“beyond the avant garden”) art movement, Nicola describes himself as a poet who writes with colours.

    The imaged selected for the 1991 tournament is by Joan Miro. Used posthumously, the Surrealist artist has a long relationship with Galerie Lelong. This image originally created in 1981 evoked “tennis” and with the approval of Miro’s heirs, was approved for use. This poster marked the centennial of the championships.

    Since the 1960s, Ernest Pignon-Ernest has used the atmosphere of the street to inspire his artwork. Capturing the history and memories of a place is an important aspect of his work. In this design, Ernest Pignon-Ernest has used the evocative hand gesture to conjure up an atmosphere of the Roland Garros championships.

    The diversity of artists is captured in the wide range of posters that seek to transport the viewer directly to the action on the court!

    View our Roland Garros posters here !

     

     

     

     

     

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