Original Waldemar Swierzy Poster, 11th International Poster Biennale Warsaw - 1986

Original Waldemar Swierzy Poster, 11th International Poster Biennale Warsaw - 1986Artist: Waldemar SwierzyDimensions: 98x68 cm Year of print: 1986Condition: Excellent Feast your eyes one of our captivating designs of Waldemar Swierzy showcased in this original 1986 poster promoting the 11th International Poster Biennale in Warsaw (XI Miedzynarodowe Biennale Plakatu Warszawa 1986). Established in 1966 at the 'Zachta' galleries, the International Poster Biennale emerged as the world's first recurring international event dedicated to

Artist: Waldemar Swierzy
Dimensions: 98x68 cm

Year of print: 1986
Condition: Excellent

Feast your eyes one of our captivating designs of Waldemar Swierzy showcased in this original 1986 poster promoting the 11th International Poster Biennale in Warsaw (XI Miedzynarodowe Biennale Plakatu Warszawa 1986).

Established in 1966 at the 'Zachęta' galleries, the International Poster Biennale emerged as the world's first recurring international event dedicated to the poster field. Originally conceived by Polish graphic artists, it was spearheaded by Eryk Lipiński and overseen by Prof. Józef Mroszczak for many years, with continuous support from Prof. Henryk Tomaszewski. Since 1990, Prof. Lech Majewski, the current President of the International Poster Biennale, has played a pivotal role in its organization. After a stint at the Poster Museum at Wilanów from 1994, the Biennale returned to its roots at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in 2018.

The aftermath of World War II marked the genesis of the Polish School of Posters, a revolutionary era in Polish poster art. Commissioned by the newly installed Communist regime, artists were tasked not only with conveying social and political messages but also with promoting various aspects of government-run cultural media such as concerts, exhibitions, film, jazz, opera, theatre, and the circus (cyrk in Polish). While artists adhered to guidelines on messaging and rejected Western values, they enjoyed artistic freedom, resulting in bold and unique designs infused with individual personality, wit, and subversive commentary. Laden with metaphors and symbolism, crafted with handcrafted typography, the posters of the Polish School of Posters significantly influenced the global landscape of graphic design. These highly original designs, characterized by their contemporary appeal, continue to garner admiration to this day.

(*) Waldemar Świerzy (1931 - 2013) was an internationally acclaimed Polish graphic designer specializing in commercial graphic images and poster art. His work is part of the MoMA collection in New York and has garnered significant awards, including the Grand Prix Tolouse-Lautrec in Paris in 1959, 1st prize at the Sao Paulo Biennial in 1969, Silver Medal at the 4th International Poster Biennale in Warsaw in 1972, Gold Medal at the 6th International Poster Biennale in Warsaw in 1976, 1st Prize at the 2nd International Biennial of Posters in Lahti, Finland, in 1977, Gold Medals in 1965, 1971, 1975, 1989, and Silver Medals in 1977, 1987, 1995, 1999 at the Polish Poster Biennials in Katowice, Poland. Additionally, he received Hollywood Reporter's Awards for the poster in 1975 and 1985, Gold and Bronze Medals at the International Jazz Salon in 1985, and won twelve Prizes of the Year in the 'Best Warsaw Poster' competitions.