Political activists in New York, and in cities the world over, have a long tradition of using boldly-designed posters to draw attention to the most pressing political and cultural issues of the day. Despite their uniquely urban form and currency, the stories of New York’s political posters have seldom been told. Join a panel of leading artists for a discussion of three decades of political posters that address life in the city, from inequality in the art world and AIDS to housing and economic justice. This program is presented jointly in conjunction with the exhibitions Activist New York and Everything Is Design: The Work of Paul Rand at the City Museum, and How Posters Work at Cooper Hewitt.

  • Guerrilla Girls, Anonymous Group of Feminist Artists
  • Avram Finkelstein, Artist and Founding Member of the Silence = Death Project and Gran Fury
  • Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Conceptual Artist, Writer, and Educator
  • Seth Tobocman, Comic Book Artist, Co-Founder of World War 3 Illustrated
  • Caitlin Condell, Assistant Curator, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Reception to follow!

Co-sponsored by AIGA/NY and Museum of the City of New York.

Cooper Hewitt Members, please RSVP to cheducation@si.edu or call (212) 849-8353 for free tickets.

Photo Credit: Peter Kuper (American, b. 1958) and Seth Tobocman (American, b. 1958). Crack House White House, 1991. Airbrush. Collection Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Gift of Steven Heller and Karrie Jacobs, 1993-53-83. Kameelah Janan Rasheed (American, b. 1985). How to Suffer Politely (And Other Etiquette for the Lumpenproletariat), 2014-present. Digital print. Courtesy of the artist.Vincent Gagliostro (American, b. 1955) and Avram Finkelstein (American, b. 1952). Enjoy AZT, 1989. Screenprint. Collection Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Gift of Steven Heller and Karrie Jacobs, 1993-53-103.