From bold pop culture classics and nostalgic 1950s travel prints to gritty Soviet era propaganda and quirky French factory notices, vintage poster paradise, Projekt Mkt has the goods to fill the bare wall in your living room.
Thousands of authentic mid-century posters from ten indie dealers will be available to browse at warehouse space The Copeland Gallery in Peckham from February 4-6, with entry costing £1.
Projekt Mkt was founded by Harriet Williams and Sylwia Newman of Projekt 26, the only UK poster store dedicated to the meaningful expression and wry wit of the Polish School of Posters – a hugely influential graphic design movement from the post-war period, when Poland was under Communist rule.
They are excited to be bringing Maciej Hibner’s iconic ‘Lola’ poster to the show, along with some “wonderful” designs by Henryk Tomaszewski, the award-winning ‘father’ of the PSP.
Other gems they know are coming to the market include Richard Avedon’s Beatles prints (“always popular”), some Roger Bezombes designs for Air France and a “very special” six-sheet 2001 Space Odyssey poster.
The majority of posters sold at Projekt Mkt are originals, but while most range in price from £100 to £300, with some rare collector’s pieces costing over £1,000, there are bargains to be found for as little as £10.
“Suiting every budget is important to us because posters were never designed to be elitist,” says Williams, who also sells some limited edition reprints for £75 to £100. “In many ways, they were the original street art.”
For this British/Polish duo, nothing beats the soulful beauty of a vintage poster, with Williams drawn to the instant emotional connection that their direct design creates. But beyond the aesthetic appeal, there are many other reasons to fall in love with this captivating art form.
“You might find a vintage poster that features your favourite film or band, or a place that means something special to you,” she says. “And they offer incredible value; for the same price as a digitally produced print, you can own a unique piece of design history.”
Vintage posters are original lithographs, printed on high quality matte paper, and Williams believes they would be considered fine art today. Not only will they add individual character to your home, but the right poster could also increase in value over time.
“If you’re keen to make a good investment, look for iconic titles or designs by well-known, highly regarded artists that are in excellent condition,” says Williams.
“But more than anything, we advise people to follow their hearts. A vintage poster should bring joy to your walls and your life.”
Confirmed exhibitors at Projekt Mkt February 2022
Film, music and skate fanatics should make a beeline for buddies Adam Kaleta (a Bafta award-winning TV director) and Christian Stevenson (aka DJ BBQ), who offer a fun, accessible range of ‘cool stuff’.
If you’re a hippie at heart, embrace the Swinging Sixties with Nick Reed. The passionate film buff trained as a graphic designer and worked as a cartoonist and illustrator in the 1980s and 1990s.
“Great graphics and typography are important, so I try to make a point of name-checking all the designers, illustrators and photographers involved in every poster,” he says. “More recently, I’ve been concentrating on psychedelic posters from the late 1960s and early 1970s, so I have some wonderful music-related stuff from here and the US.”
This quirky store, run by Annie Sparks, specialises in vintage French graphics including advertising and educational posters, ephemera and maps. Our highlight is the range of joyfully illustrated French health and safety posters, designed for use in factories.
Geoffrey Powell collects and sells mid-century posters with a fine art background, with many advertising shows and exhibitions in the plentiful galleries of the South of France.
“There was still an innocence back then,” he says. “The poster wasn’t copied and sold as an item; it was simply a way of communicating what was being shown and where!”
He prefers posters that have ‘lived a life’, with evidence of Sellotape, drawing pin holes and the odd coffee stain.
“I like the idea of them being begged, borrowed or stolen by someone who admires but can’t afford the original work of the artist. That’s why I tend to do minimal work – just preservation and a frame to show it off, warts and all.”
Jerome Monahan
This charming mid-century poster collector could talk to you all day about Soviet-era posters. “Alongside the Russian posters, I have collected Czech, Hungarian, Yugoslav, Polish, US and UK posters from the same period,” he says.
“But it is the posters of the post-Stalinist Khrushchev years (1953-1964) that I find most beautiful and compelling.”
Karen Lansdown has been dealing in vintage travel posters for over two decades. Based in her Camberwell studio, she offers an extensive collection of mid-century airline, coach, railway, Olympic and sailing posters. Prices are accessible for new collectors, but there are also some specialist jewels to be found.
Husband and wife duo Robin and Rachel Yacoubian are behind this collection of iconic and rare mid-century film posters (hence the nod to director Orson Welles). Robin’s silver screen obsession combines with Rachel’s passion for interiors to present a finely curated, design-led edit of the classics.
