Herbert Bayer (1900-1985) is recognized as one of the most influential designers of the 20th century.  His work continues to guide graphic designers to this day.  Bayer believed in the equality of all arts; there was no delineation between applied art, craft, and fine art. During his lifetime, he made groundbreaking innovations in graphic design and typography, printmaking, painting, advertising design, architecture and landscape architecture.

 

Bayer was also a prolific poster designer, yet his posters remain an under-appreciated portion of his oeuvre. His poster compositions emphasized clarity of communication and simplicity of message. Bayer stated, “The solution must be rigorously proportioned; a balance and internal harmony must be established among otherwise diverse and incompatible elements; form must be thoroughly investigated, colors direct and evocative; the text must be situated within the composition as a typographic element no less definitely positioned and balanced than are other more explicitly visual elements”(Cohen, Herbert Bayer: The Complete Work, 1984, 191). This exhibition of posters provides an overview of his work from the Bauhaus through his tenure in Colorado, and includes posters he designed for his own exhibitions, European posters, advertising posters, and images that Bayer produced while living and working in Aspen.

This exhibition is on loan from John Schaefer of Peyton Wright Gallery and Hugo Anderson. Herbert Bayer: Posters opened at Colorado State University and traveled to small venues throughout the state.