Art for All: British Posters for Transport

April 15–August 14, 2011
The Wolfsonian–FIU @ 1001 Washington Avenue

In 1908, the London Underground began a promotional campaign that became one of the most successful, adventurous, and best-sustained branding operations ever attempted. Its posters, along with distinctive roundel signs and an iconic map of the Tube, helped to foster a civic identity for the city of London. More than 5,000 artist-produced posters have been commissioned to the present day as part of this ongoing program.

Art for All: British Posters for Transport detailed the history of Underground posters from 1908 to the 1980s, as well as the posters of England’s four mainline rail companies from 1923 until their nationalization as British Rail in 1948. In addition to tracing changing graphic styles through the twentieth century, the exhibition highlighted some unique features of the Underground poster program: the multifaceted career of Edward McKnight Kauffer, the extraordinary commitment to women artists, and the modes of display and installation of the posters in the Underground.

Art for All was organized by the Yale Center for British Art in celebration of the generous gift to the Center by Henry S. Hacker, Yale College, Class of 1965, of his British poster collection. It was guest-curated by Teri J. Edelstein with coordinating curator Scott Wilcox, Yale Center for British Art.