The best posters in the history of the London Underground
The London Underground’s 150th birthday this year has cast a well-deserved light on the archive of brilliantly executed design that the oft-berated transport system has spawned throughout its life.
Now, a forthcoming show at the London Transport Museum is set to celebrate the two-dimensional side of the Tube’s design history, with an exhibition of 150 Underground posters.
Curators sifted through a whopping archive of 3,300 posters to select the final 150, with featured works including pieces by artists such as Edward McKnight Kauffer and Paul Nash.
Throughout the show’s tenure, visitors will have the chance to vote for their favourite poster, with the winner revealed when it ends in October this year.
The exhibition is organised around six main themes. ‘Finding your way’ delineates not only the routes the Tube travels, but also how to navigate the Tube, with etiquette posters and messages of reassurance to travellers.
Meanwhile ‘brightest London’ highlights the events, nightlife and sport that make the capital dazzle.
‘Capital culture’ showcases posters that point out trips such as gallery, zoo or museum visits; while the ‘get away from it all’ section encourages travellers to look a little further afield and venture out of the Big Smoke to the relative serenity of the suburbs.
‘Love your city’ – as if any Londoner should need reminding – presents a selection of posters that show off the very best of the London landmarks that have featured in posters from the last 150 years.
Poster Art 150 – London Underground’s Greatest Designs runs from 15 February – 27 October at London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E. A Friday Lates event takes place on the exhibition’s opening night, for more information visit www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Read this next
Abram Games did some amazing poster work for the London Underground, am surprised to see now examples of His here.