School of Art Hosts United States International Poster Biennial

School of Art

Junior graphic design student, Sydney Frey, and her featured poster 'Still Here.'

The School of Art in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is hosting the United States International Poster Biennial exhibition now through Jan. 26, 2024, at the Studio and Design Center in south Fayetteville. This exhibition offers a comprehensive survey of poster designs from around the world.

The USIPB exhibition is available to be viewed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Studio and Design Center, second floor gallery and hallway. In addition, this weekend only, audiences can view this exhibition, Dec. 16-17, during the Winter Art Market.

Graphic design assistant professor Ryan Slone is vice president and co-founder of USIPB and led the efforts to bring this traveling exhibition to campus. Other locations include Iowa State University, the University of Alabama, Purdue University, Suffolk University and public spaces in Los Angeles, California. In 2024, the exhibition will expand to galleries in Poland, China and Australia.

The juried exhibition selected 260 posters in five topic categories including social, cultural, animated, inclusion and U.S. poster that were selected from 7,380 entries submitted by professional and student artists, graphic designers, photographers and visual communicators from 75 countries. 

The exhibition at the Studio and Design Center features 70 posters from the inaugural exhibition at Iowa State University. 

One of the 7,380 entries was School of Art junior graphic design student Sydney Frey, whose poster was selected as one of the 260 posters. Her poster design, Still Here, is an acknowledgement to the resiliency of generations of queer people who overcame historical adversity and prejudices so this poster can hang freely. 

Frey created the piece using a collection of newspaper headlines that heavily articulate public hatred toward the queer community, aimed to serve as a testament to the perseverance of many for the liberation of all. 

"It stands as a reminder that progress does not equal freedom; true freedom remains a goal requiring continuous advocacy so that generations from now, queer people will still be here and heard," Frey said.

From graphic advocacy to evocative narratives, posters featured in this exhibition serve as an expression of defiance, a demonstration of solidarity and more often than not, as a call to action.

"Throughout history, posters have remained a resilient medium for affecting change and encouraging public discourse," Slone said. "This exhibition presents posters that address social issues, challenge established power structures and engage the audience in a dialogue about concerns that have an impact on our global community."

The exhibition was juried by Rikke Hansen, Angelina Lippert, Saki Mafundikwa, Drueding and Scorsone, Felipe Taborda, Xiao Yong, Agnieszka Ziemiszewska and Woody Pirtle, alum of the U of A Department of Art graduating with a fine arts degree. The USIPB logo and branding system were designed by Michael Braley, creative director of Braley Design in Lexington, Kentucky.

All are invited to view the exhibition Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Studio and Design Center, second floor gallery and hallway. Attendees are also invited to the closing reception Jan. 25 from 4 to 6 p.m.