Transport for London is famed across the globe for revolutionising the poster, with an unmatched history of providing world-class advertising campaigns. From renowned artists and designers to iconic slogans, you can now discover the power of the poster at this brand-new gallery at the London Transport Museum.
For the first time ever, artworks and designs from TfL’s fabulous collection of over 30,000 advertising posters are presently displayed in a dedicated gallery at this iconic museum in Covent Garden.
How to Make a Poster
The inaugural exhibit, entitled How to Make a Poster, is a visual exploration of poster commissioning for London Transport, as well as creativity in the pre-digital age from 1900. In many ways, it’s an exhibition about art history and culture, with references and art styles reflecting the time from the start of the collection to its conclusion.
There are more than 100 poster artworks from London Transport Museum’s collection on display, including the Underground’s very first pictorial poster titled ‘No need to ask a p’liceman’ by John Hassall, dating back to 1908.
Iconic posters by internationally recognised figures will also be on show, including works by the American graphic artists Edward McKnight Kauffer and Man Ray, as well as British artists like Abram Games, Tom Eckersley, Paul Catherall, and Dora M Batty, who was the most prolific female designer commissioned by the Underground.
Frank Pick, the first Chief Executive of London Transport, believed that ‘there is room in posters for all styles’, which eventually led to the fantastic tapestry of diverse posters and history that we can finally enjoy in its entirety, with an extensive collection that you can now explore in the heart of the city.
You can find How to Make a Poster at the London Transport Museum, located in Covent Garden on the Covent Garden Piazza. Click here to visit their website for more information.