Review: Klimowski Poster Book

Andrzej Klimowski is an artist and designer who, during the 1970s, created some of the period’s most iconic poster designs. Among his extensive catalogue of posters made are those for films such as Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II, Alfred Hitchcock’s Family Plot, and Roman Polanski’s Chinatown.

Having studied at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Art, Klimowski developed an international reputation as a poster and book jacket designer while also experimenting with other forms of media such as film. His work is heavily and clearly influenced by folk art, Surrealism and the work of Henryk Tomaszewski, his mentor at the Warsaw Academy, but he has also developed his own personal style which keeps his works from being simply imitation. Using techniques such as photomontage and linocuts, he has been able to produce works that stand the test of time.

When creating the film posters, Klimowski was often given just a synopsis or script to work with instead of a viewing of the film and so they offer different interpretations of the narrative than what the director himself gives. This beautifully embellished book contains over one hundred of his poster designs from 1975 to 2017 along with a detailed introduction written by academic David Crowley about his life and work. Each piece printed is a complex work of art that enthusiasts of both art and film will find a lot of value in.

Klimowski is currently Emeritus Professor of Illustration at the Royal College of Art in addition to his work as a graphic designer and illustrator. If you are interested in getting a more hands-on look at his artistic process he will be at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London on 24th March for a poster making workshop as part of Playback Festival 2018. Tickets are £1 each and can be purchased here.