The increasingly popular exhibition poster

Exhibition Posters Rare & Limited Rare Posters David Hockney Keith Haring Henri Matisse Pablo Picasso

Since the development of lithograph printing in 1866, posters have been a vital means of communication and a familiar feature in our public spaces. In recent years, exhibition posters have become more and more popular, with museums and galleries being one of the most proactive establishments publishing these posters.

We take a closer look at why exhibition posters are increasingly filling our spaces.

Rare examples

Often exquisitely designed, exhibition posters have become reminders of significant cultural movements. In recent years, these prestigious relics have become increasingly popular, not only because of their appealing design. One of the most common reasons for exhibition posters becoming popular is down to their relative scarcity.

Until recently, museums and galleries only printed enough posters for distribution purposes to create momentum around the event. Once an exhibition was over posters were often disregarded unless the printer or gallery owner had saved a few copies at the time.

L'Atelier de Braque, 1961

£1,360, framed rare poster

Rare & Limited Georges Braque Rare Posters Cubism Exhibition Posters Galerie Mourlot Abstract Modern Art

Landmark exhibition

Some of the most sought after posters are those from landmark exhibitions acting as reminders of historical events.

Keith Haring often enjoyed creating one-off designs to advertise his shows. In 1984 he produced 'Keith Haring a Milano...', a dynamic poster promoting his first ever solo show in Italy at Galleria Salvatore Ala in Milan.

The subway station artist was invited to Milan by Salvador Ala, an Italian gallerist and supporter of ‘Arte povera’ - Italy’s radical art movement whose artists explored unconventional processes and materials.

Ala saw potential in Haring and invited him to spend three weeks in Milan preparing for the exhibition, working in the gallery and studios throughout the city.

During this time, his main form of influence was music, working non-stop to thumping beats, helping him paint with precision and speed. Haring would often frequent the iconic Milan club Plastic to unwind.

With its neon tones, dynamic figures and spiraled eyes, the exhibition posters mirrors the euphoric and dizzying energy of large underground European clubs during the mid 1980s.

Keith Haring a Milano... 1984

£230, framed art print

Keith Haring Exhibition Posters Graffiti Art Pop Art Graphic Art Figurative Modern Art Graphic & Illustration

Produced by fine art printers

During the first half of the 20th century museums had become important educational institutions informing the public about art, history and developments in science.

As a result, several fine art printers including Atelier Mourlot and Imprimerie Arnéra Archives began specialising in producing exhibition posters.

Both printers were celebrated for their high-quality lithograph runs and collaborated closely with artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse.

Many of these exceptional posters are sought after by collectors and museums alike, including Matisse’s colour lithographic poster for his exhibition at the bookshop of bookseller and publisher Pierre Berrés in Paris. The exhibition showcased a collection of illustrations by the artist that were published in the autobiography ‘Portuguese Letters’ by Marianna Alcaforado.

The exceptional poster features ‘Maison de la Pensée Française’, which was produced in 1946 at Mourlot’s Paris studio, where Matisse was encouraged to treat lithography as a painterly medium.

Maison de la Pensée Francaise, 1946

£1,810, framed rare poster

Rare & Limited Henri Matisse Rare Posters Exhibition Posters Galerie Mourlot Modern Art

Prolific artist

Exhibition posters pre-1970 are astonishingly uncommon, especially those advertising a show by a prolific artist.

One of the most in demand exhibition posters are those designed by or for Pablo Picasso's exhibitions.

As an influential 20th century artist, Picasso was an unstoppable force and possessed a flawless grasp on many techniques, not just painting. In 2018 Louisiana Museum of Modern Mark in Denmark held 'Picasso Ceramics'.

Acting as the first show in Scandinavia to focus on Picasso's ceramic production, the exhibition contained 160 artworks produced mainly at the Madoura workshop in Vallauris.

Louisiana's powder blue poster features Picasso's painted vase 'Tete de femme'. This eye-catching design also marked the beginning of Louisiana's 60th anniversary year.

The museum's ties with the Spanish master and the production of the poster for the momentous event makes it incredibly popular amongst collectors.

Tete de femme, 1961

£260, framed poster

Rare & Limited Pablo Picasso Exhibition Posters Portraits & Faces Cubism Modern Art Figurative

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Abstract Abstract Geometric Modern Art Hilma af Klint Piet Mondrian

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Andy Warhol Warhol's illustrations

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Ele Pack Contemporary Abstract

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Claire Oxley abstract landscapes landscape abstract contemporary

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Liz West Contemporary Editions Limited editions

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The increasingly popular exhibition poster

Rare examples

Landmark exhibition

Produced by fine art printers

Prolific artist

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