School of Visual Arts (SVA) Chelsea Gallery will open its doors to the exhibition, Look Both Ways: The Illicit Liaison Between Image and Information, curated by Debbie Millman, chair of the MPS Branding program at SVA. This exhibition brings together a wide range of typographic work from 60 individual artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shepard Fairey, Dave Eggers, Deborah Kass, Jenny Holzer, Miranda July, Kim Gordon, and more ~ from Millman’s personal collection and beyond.
Look Both Ways showcases the many ways in which words, text and information influence art, design, literature and music. Bold typographic expression has become the cultural currency of communication and the centerpiece of connection. Objects and experiences all around us now contain an inscription, an impression or a point of view. Our bodies, clothing, public events, sports, politics and even the products we consume have given people, by way of social media and the internet, an instantaneous way to communicate globally. On an intimately personal level, tattoos have assumed the atavistic power of images and words. This dynamic is evident today in all disciplines of visual communications, reflecting the conditions of our culture.
The works in this exhibition come largely from Millman’s own personal collection of text-based art. In addition to her work as an educator and leader at SVA, Millman is an acclaimed designer, writer, and strategist and has been hosting her “Design Matters” podcast for more than 14 years.
“I am thrilled to partner with SVA to share this selection of typography works from a group of innovative and outspoken artists, several from my own personal collection,” said curator and MPS Branding chair Debbie Millman. “This exhibition is a stark reminder of the power language has to rule all facets of culture. These works will undoubtedly incite many passionate discussions.”
Look Both Ways: The Illicit Liaison Between Image and Information, curated by Debbie Millman, will be on view from August 24th to September 6th, 2019 at SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th Floor, NYC. Opening Reception will be held on Friday, September 6th from 6-8pm. This is a Free event, open to the public.