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"Very nice Posters. The quality is amazing and we received it very quickly !"
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"A shop to visit absolutely. Huge selection of posters. We spent more than an hour there !"
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"Perfect to find gift. Price are very good. An they can frame and pack it on site"
About the Artist
Lanny Sommese was an influential American graphic designer and educator, renowned for his bold, concept-driven posters that helped define the visual language of late twentieth-century American design. Associated with the School of Visual Arts, Sommese advocated for the integration of strong visual ideas and innovative typography, fostering a generation of designers who valued both clarity and creativity. His legacy endures among collectors and design enthusiasts who appreciate the intellectual rigor and immediacy of his work.
Sommese’s approach transformed everyday communication into memorable visual statements, making his posters a touchstone for those interested in modern graphic art and design history.
The Artwork
This 1979 poster was commissioned by the School of Visual Arts in New York to promote a faculty exhibition, reflecting a period of dynamic change in American design education. Created during an era when SVA was nurturing new talent and embracing experimental approaches, the poster served as both an announcement and an emblem of the school’s forward-thinking ethos. The use of an eye motif underscores the importance of observation and critical engagement within the creative process, echoing the institution’s commitment to visual literacy.
The work also exemplifies the tradition of collectible American design posters and connects with the broader history of advertising and abstract graphic art.
Style & Characteristics
The poster features a striking abstract eye composed of geometric forms, set against a deep black background. Vivid pink accents and subtle grey tones create a bold yet balanced color palette, while the sharp-edged shapes and generous negative space lend the composition a sense of clarity and energy. The confident, large-scale typography is integrated seamlessly, reinforcing the modernist aesthetic and late 1970s sensibility.
This graphic approach results in a poster that is visually immediate and conceptually engaging, appealing to collectors of design history and admirers of vintage prints with a contemporary edge.
In Interior Design
This piece serves as a powerful focal point in modern interiors, especially in creative workspaces, studios, or living areas that benefit from bold graphic statements. Its sleek palette and abstract design pair well with minimalist or Bauhaus-inspired decor, and it can be complemented by other pink accent art for a cohesive look.
Framing options from the frames collection can further enhance its crisp lines, making it a sophisticated addition to any art wall or gallery arrangement.