The close relationship between lustigs work and fine art allows design historians to turn to art historical writing for help in analyzing lustigs work. Part of a big find this afternoon of several early alvin. The american graphic designer alvin lustig 19151955 was inspired by the fine arts of his time, so his work reveals much about both design and art of the 1930s, forties, and fifties. He was writer and design critic, and an educator at black mountain and yale.
Elaine lustig cohens world wide web print magazine. Best known for provocative book covers and jackets, his short life he died at age 40 was renown for a variety of design breakthroughs in graphic, furniture, interior, product and architectural design. Dec 18, 2017 a colorful history of judging books by their covers. Alvin lustig, 1946 all book covers for new directions, unless. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga. How to take care of a really cool book jacket by poetry.
Elaine lustig cohen march 6, 1927 october 4, 2016 was an american graphic designer, artist and archivist. Lustig also designed sculptural lighting fixtures with small circular bulbs that were akin to the abstract linear designs he used on some of his betterknown book jackets. A season of hell by arthur rimbaud 18541891, the precocious boypoet of french symbolism. Their collection of book jackets by american designer alvin lustig, ads for milanese tire. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about this site. He also studied design independently with american architect frank lloyd wright at his taliesin studio. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer books. Sep 14, 2012 according to lustig cohen, the exhibition marks the first time that their work has been shown side by side. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer architecture.
Nov 23, 2017 the golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. Rit publishes new book on modernist designer alvin lustig. The international center of photography and sepiaeye presents an evolving archive. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his. They collect books, magazines, posters, and ephemera for inspiration just like many other graphic designers, but kind companys greg donofrio and patricia belen arent your average graphic design hoarders. Alvin lustig s contributions to the design of books and book jackets, magazines, interiors, and textiles as well as his teachings would have made him a credible candidate for the aiga lifetime achievement award when he was alive. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and wellresearched representation of lustig s book cover designs that were created primarily for new directions books and noonday press, among others. The photographs of bhupendra karia with paul sternberger. Alvin lustig, book cover design for monday night by kay boyle, new directions books, usa. Dec 22, 2017 we are cautioned to avoid judging a book by its cover, yet that is precisely what publishers hope we will do. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book design and book cover design. Alv i n l u s t ig was a midtwentieth century designer, whose work ranged from textiles and advertisements to interiors and furniture. Graphic, architectural, and book designer, new york.
The celebratory event and ceremony, which took place in new york city, highlighted her exemplary design work and career, citing her as a pioneering graphic designer, artist and archivist. Penguin classics book covers designed and hand embroidered by jillian tamaki cover love book cover design alvin lustig book cover action. Library special exhibitions straight jackets cabinet 9. Lawrences the man who died 1947, and tennessee williams cat on a hot tin roof 1955.
Alvin lustig was a renowned twentieth century graphic designer. Fifties designer alvin lustigs book jackets provide inspiration for painted walls and floors. Yet over the years, elaine and i have teamed together in promoting the legacy of alvin lustig. Each has had major individual exhibitions, alvin at the walker art center in. Borrowing for exhibitions how to borrow archival materials for exhibitions. Aug 02, 2016 alvin lustig was one of the most influential graphic designers of mid20th century america, despite the unfortunate brevity of his career. The covers designed by alvin lustig in the 1940s and 1950s employ abstracted iconography and simple typography and lettering to create emotionally.
Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for the wanderer by alain. How one couple turned a graphic design hobby into a major. In april 2012, elaine lustig cohen was awarded the 2011 aiga medal, the most distinguished honor offered by the aiga, the american professional organization for design. Among the many projects that reached beyond the realm of commercial design and traditional academics, lustig proposed workshops coordinated between yale university and the museum of modern art as well as a book on his design and design philosophy. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his widow, elaine. We are cautioned to avoid judging a book by its cover, yet that is precisely what publishers hope we will do. Oct 21, 2017 a new collection of classic illustrations highlights the timeless appeal of dust jackets. She is best known for her work as a graphic designer during the 1950s and 60s, having created over 150 designs for book covers and museum catalogs.
New book is a colorful history of judging a book by its cover. Not only did she pick up where her late husband, alvin lustig, left off after his passing at just 40 years old, but she blazed her own trail in a maledominated world of modern design, navigating all the prejudices that went with it. Alvin lustig love the little flecky lines and amoebish bodies. Book cover, a season in hell, 1947 objects collection of cooper. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions books. From the book jackets of alvin lustig by james laughlin, print magazine, octnov 1956 the first jacket which lustig did for a new directions book the one for the 1941 edition of henry millers wisdom of the heart was quite unlike. The book jackets of alvin lustig rochester institute of technology cary graphic arts press, 2010, and george giusti. Bookjackets by alvin lustig for new directions books. The golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. Back in 2006, i had been asked to get in touch with the estate regarding his jacket designs for new directions. Book jacket cooper hewitt, smithsonian design museum. A streetcar named desire, with modernprimitivist art by alvin lustig. The alvin lustig archive includes over 400 designs from this important modern american design pioneer. Alvin lustig book jacket for a streetcar named desire, 1947, from the.
Americana cooper hewitt, smithsonian design museum. Library special exhibitions straight jackets cabinet 16 arthur rimbaud, a season in hell. Elaine at the cooper hewitt, national design museum, in 1995. It is sure to trigger pangs of belletristic acquisitiveness and perhaps even launch you on a new bookbuying addictionyet even the most dedicated collector will find it difficult to match the quality of the books displayed in this design show.
Alvin lustig 19151955, elaine lustig cohen 19272016. Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for the wanderer by alain fournier, new directions books, 1947. He hung floortoceiling curtains made from ninon, an inexpensive white transparent nylon fabric, to smooth out the edges of the room. Collaborating with rutgersnewark colleague ned drew, dr. By the time he died at the age of 40 in 1955, he had already introduced principles of modern art to graphic design. Wellknown for his designs of books, book jackets, and magazines, lustig also designed several record jackets for albums of classical and concert band music. Legacy throughout his career, alvin lustig designed book jackets using his personal vision and modern forms. His career highlights include numerous book jackets for new directions and noonday press. From new directions, alvin lustig is again the designer of a contrasting black and white on a hellishred cover while the artist keith vaughan 19121977, from the stable of john lehmann, delivers a more somber design. Born in 1915, alvin lustig grew up in denver, colorado. Alvin lustig, untitled draft of a grant application in the archives of american art, c. Lacma makes commitment to graphic design eye on design. Many of new directions classic titles now proudly wear their original lustig jackets.
A colorful history of judging books by their covers the. By the 1920s, the americanborn artist edward mcknight kauffer 18901954 was recognized as a dominant force in british graphics, celebrated for the posters he designed for, among others, eastman and son ltd. Alvin lustig papers, 19351955 archives of american art. Four such albums bearing lustigs design are featured in cooper hewitts collection, including. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions books from the collection of letterform archive. Bookjackets by alvin lustig for new directions books, 1947.
Dec 30, 2017 new book is a colorful history of judging a book by its cover. I first met the artist and designer elaine lustig cohen through the website dedicated to her former husband, the legendary designer alvin lustig. Case in point, the new exhibition vitality of new forms. Before his death at the age of forty, lustig established a new look in book jacket design in america. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Sep 17, 2010 people who judge a book by its cover would be impressed with the work of alvin lustig 19151955, who designed book jackets for notable works such as f. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions booksfrom the collection of letterform archive. Dustjacket book cover illustration, which came into its own in the 1920s, has long. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity. Modern american book cover design princeton architectural press, 2005, purity of aim. This may, new directions will issue an alvin lustig postcard collection. Lustig wanted to be seen as a diverse designer, but.