Jacob Lawrence

1972 Munich Olympics original poster by Jacob Lawrence

1972

A striking fusion of modernist aesthetics and Olympic spirit, this 1972 original poster by Victor Vasarely stands out as one of the most iconic contributions to the visual identity o...

The 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, marked a momentous occasion in Olympic history, and one of the most iconic pieces of memorabilia from this event is Andy Warhol’s striking official poster. Known for his revolutionary pop art style, Warhol was among several renowned artists commissioned to create promotional artwork for the XIV Olympic Winter Games. Warhol’s silkscreen-inspired poster captures the intensity and movement of a speed skater in full stride. Using bold neon outlines, a vibrant red body suit, and dynamic geometric background elements, the composition conveys a sense of urgency and athleticism. The contrasting colors—deep black, electric green, yellow, and blue—amplify the subject’s momentum, making the skater appear almost weightless against the abstract backdrop. While Warhol is best known for his depictions of celebrities and consumer goods, this Olympic commission demonstrated his versatility as an artist. His ability to distill movement and expression into a minimalist yet powerful composition makes this piece stand out among other Olympic posters. This official 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics poster is highly sought after by collectors and Olympic memorabilia enthusiasts alike. As one of Warhol’s few sports-related works, it embodies both his unmistakable artistic style and the spirit of global athletic competition. Warhol’s Sarajevo Olympics...

Rare Olympic Games Munich 1972 Limited Edition 'Poster entitled 'Five Black Athletes in a Relay Race' signed and numbered by Jacob Lawrence Dimensions: Sheet Size: Length 109.5 × 69.5 cm Image Size: Length: 87 × 64 cm Edition Size: 200 Edition Number: 24 marked in pencil by Jacob Lawrence Signed: Jacob Lawrence 71 in pencil by Jacob Lawrence Serigraph – Screenprint Printed words on the left hand corner of the sheet read as follows: © Edition Olympia 1972 Gmbh 1971 Dietz Officin Lengmoos Description Bold colours fresh and vibrant as when originally issued Overall condition: Very good for age A minor tear at the top edge has been repaired and the poster has been given a conservation wash by one of UK’s leading paper conservators, in the main, to remove soluble pollutants, which if left untreated in a poster, in particular, one printed more than 50 years ago would accelerate its degradation. This first class conservational treatment will ensure that the poster would retain its present condition if professionally framed with museum-quality glass and not exposed to direct sunlight or put into long-term storage following the specialist guidelines for the storage of posters and prints. Jacob Lawrence was one of a number of artists who were invited to design posters for the 1972 Olympic Games held in Munich. He was first non-white artist to commissioned by an Olympic Games Committee. Lawrence created an image to commemorate the involvement of black athletes in the Olympic Games, as track was the field in which they had traditionally excelled. This striking poster depicts five black runners with grimacing faces take giant strides around a large, curving track as they head toward the finish line. They hold batons in their hands to show that they are competing in a relay race. Each athlete is shown with his arms, legs, and head in a slightly different position, one has his head back and his right leg stretched forward, almost straight. Lawrence used bold colours to depict the runners' stylised faces and legs as well as the repeated shapes of the track. He combined the flat, simplified shapes and empty spaces of modernism with silhouetted figures and the rhythmic patterns and colours of Harlem scenes. He labelled his pictorial style 'dynamic cubism'. Lawrence's poster embraces several themes: a) the intensity of competition in a relay race with invariably dramatic endings; b) memories of the African American athlete, Jesse Owens...

- rare - marked - original - can be framed and glazed.