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.
Roman Cieślewicz at the Royal College of Art
Poster for the ’Paris : 1937 - 1957’ show at the Pompidou Centre by Roman Cieslewicz, 1981
Poster for the ’Paris : 1937 - 1957’ show at the Pompidou Centre by Roman Cieslewicz, 1981
’Madame Lacleur’ collage from ’The Mysteries of Udolpho’ series, by Roman Cieslewicz, 1975
’Madame Lacleur’ collage from ’The Mysteries of Udolpho’ series, by Roman Cieslewicz, 1975
’A Gothic Night’ collage from ’The Mysteries of Udolpho’ series, by Roman Cieslewicz, 1975
’A Gothic Night’ collage from ’The Mysteries of Udolpho’ series, by Roman Cieslewicz, 1975
’Polish Fashion’ - a poster promoting a new Polish fashion chain in Warsaw, by Roman Cieslewicz, 1959
’Polish Fashion’ - a poster promoting a new Polish fashion chain in Warsaw, by Roman Cieslewicz, 1959
’Vertigo’ poster promoting Alfred Hitchcock’s film, by Roman Cieslewicz, 1963
’Vertigo’ poster promoting Alfred Hitchcock’s film, by Roman Cieslewicz, 1963
Cover for Ti i Ja magazine, designed by Roman Cieslewicz. Cieslewicz was the magazine’s art editor from 1959 - 62
Cover for Ti i Ja magazine, designed by Roman Cieslewicz. Cieslewicz was the magazine’s art editor from 1959 - 62
Cieslewicz’s work on show at the Royal College of Art
Cieslewicz’s work on show at the Royal College of Art
’Look’ motive from the poster for Roman Cieslewicz’s solo show, ’Roman Cieslewicz: photomontage, affiche, serigraphie’ at Palais Rihour in Lille, 1978
’Look’ motive from the poster for Roman Cieslewicz’s solo show, ’Roman Cieslewicz: photomontage, affiche, serigraphie’ at Palais Rihour in Lille, 1978
Roman Cieslewicz posters being installed at the Royal College of Art
Roman Cieslewicz posters being installed at the Royal College of Art
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