September 2023 Art Display: The Founders of Rock and Roll

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Founders of Rock and Roll

The Founders of Rock and Roll

Michael Schwab, American (b 1952)

Michael Schwab is a graphic designer and illustrator known for creating posters in a high-contrast, flat-color style. This style takes cues from serigraphs and early outdoor bill postings that were popular in the early 20th century through the WPA era.

The Founders of Rock and Roll posters were created for the Springhill brand of paper (Sylvamo Company) as a promotion to present paper samples to graphic designers and printing companies. The series has since become highly collectible.

Schwab’s work has transcended the commercial art world crossing over into fine art. His work can be found in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and others.