Paula Scher: Maps, Prints & Drawings

Works by the celebrated graphic designer and artist, Paula Scher, will arrive at the PDC as a part of Design Loves Art, an arts program launched in late 2009 with the aim of providing a platform to explore art and design. Maps, Prints & Drawings opens on September 19 along with 14 other new gallery exhibits.

Since the early 1990’s, Scher has been re-imaging society’s approach to data and our visual representation of the world through map making. Her maps are like nothing ever seen in an atlas, they are composed of typography and vibrating colors looming large at an outrageous scale.

Design Loves Art Curator, Helen Varola, explains that she chose Scher for this exhibit based on the way she links the world of art with the world of design through her work.

“Our arts program focuses on artists who extend their normal practice towards various media, including design,” said Varola. “Paula Scher, a critically recognized graphic designer, is also a painter who fuses her design DNA onto canvas to forge limitless boundaries for her art.”

Scher’s hand-pulled screen-prints are exquisite renditions of her massive map paintings. Made in collaboration with Andy Warhol’s master printer Alexander Heinrici, each print is realized with the same hand-drawn elegance of her painted maps.

“She is involved in every step of the printing process, redrawing new plates in the same style as the master printmakers of the 20th century,” said Varola. “Her Paris map is particularly stunning!”

There will be an opening night reception on September 19 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Suite B231, and a talk with Scher on September 20 at 2:00 p.m. in the Blue Conference Center, Suite B259. The exhibit will run through November 10 in space B231.

For more information on the exhibit visit the Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery website. And for more information about the PDC or Design Loves Art click here.