Organized in conjunction with ArtCenter’s 2018 Alumni Reunion festivities, Backslant: Graphic Work by ArtCenter Alumni displayed a collection of graphic work with an emphasis on typography as represented by graduates of the school from 1948–2018. It covered a variety of media, from book, poster, and type design to packaging and motion graphics.
Included in the exhibition were John Van Hamersveld’s iconic Jimi Hendrix and Cream posters; A Tribute to Aretha Franklyn by Ty Drake; posters designed by Kit Hinrichs and Luis Fitch; an extensive collection of typeface design posters and specimen books including the newly designed IBM Plex by Mike Abbink; the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games poster designed by Jayme Odgers in collaboration with April Greimann; Clement Mok’s classic designs for Apple books and brochures; Stefan Bucher’s book The Fall; Arts & Architecture magazine cover designs by John Follis; and a selection of broadsides created by alumni at Archetype Press, ArtCenter’s unique letterpress studio.

The exhibition also included a section at HMCT’s Storefront space presenting a selection of posters by ArtCenter‘s graphic design students.

Exhibition identity: Simon Johnston
Exhibition design and curation: Lavinia Lascaris