“The Graphic Imperative” is a select retrospective of 40 years of international sociopolitical posters. Themes include dissent, liberation, racism, sexism, human rights, civil rights, environmental and health concerns, AIDS, war, literacy and tolerance, collectively providing a window to an age of great change.

Focusing on the issues of our turbulent times, these 111 posters endeavor to show the social, political and aesthetic concerns of many cultures in a single exhibition through delineating themes and contrasting political realities. Curator Elizabeth Resnick believes it’s a direct line to the increasing role designers are playing in shaping the cultural, political and social movements of today.

“Designers are taught to be master manipulators of visual language. As such, designers have a social and ethical responsibility to create and transmit meaningful forms of communication to benefit our society and culture,” says Resnick. “The Graphic Imperative exhibition is the physical embodiment of this design philosophy—yet its content is universally understood by all people.”

After New York, “The Graphic Imperative” will travel to:

September 5 – October 27, 2006 Des Lee Gallery, Washington University, St. Louis

November 14 – January 26, 2007 Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton