Roman Cieślewicz at the Royal College of Art
Polish graphic designer Roman Cieślewicz was a master of collage who, with his scalpel and scissors, brought surrealist fantasy to the dour visual culture of communist Poland. By reworking familiar icons like Che Guevara and Mona Lisa, he produced some of the most influential posters and book illustrations of the 20th century, now on show at London's Royal College of Art.
Born in Poland in 1930, Cieślewicz later moved to Paris in 1963, where he was renowned for his critical perspective of Western consumer spectacle. His works on show at the RCA range from film posters, such as his eery design for Hitchcock's 'Vertigo', to his Soviet Avant Garde-inspired publicity posters for the Pompidou Centre in the late 1970s.
The prolific designer - who died in 1996 - also worked closely with figures from the worlds of advertising and fashion, including Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton, as well as art directed several magazines.
Cieślewicz's RCA exhibition is the first retrospective of his work in the UK. Presented by the Polish Cultural Institute and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, it is the finale of 'Polska! Year' - a British celebration of Polish culture in Britain.
ADDRESS
Gulbenkian Galleries
Royal College of Art
Kensington Gore
London SE7 2EU
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Malaika Byng is an editor, writer and consultant covering everything from architecture, design and ecology to art and craft. She was online editor for Wallpaper* magazine for three years and more recently editor of Crafts magazine, until she decided to go freelance in 2022. Based in London, she now writes for the Financial Times, Metropolis, Kinfolk and The Plant, among others.
-
The 2024 Ivor Novello nominations for songwriting have been revealed
77 British and Irish songwriters and composers make up this year's nominees, announced tonight at London's Groucho Club
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Why Bollinger’s La Grande Année 2015 champagne is worth celebrating
Champagne Bollinger unveils La Grande Année 2015 and La Grande Année Rosé 2015, two outstanding cuvées from an exceptional year in wine-making
By Melina Keays Published
-
Lexus installation explores time at Milan Design Week 2024
Lexus brought designer Hideki Yoshimoto’s ‘Beyond the Horizon’ to Milan’s Art Point, part of its ongoing series of collaborations with Fuorisalone
By Nargess Shahmanesh Banks Published