60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists
When scouring the design field, searching for stand-out artistic expression and fluid composition, one area that should always catch the eye, is poster design. Moreover, concert poster design, which has produced some truly revolutionary artists and works for generations now, should be paid particular attention to. Fluidity of design is especially key in poster layouts, as there is a finite space, and numerous points to capture and pass along within these confines.
The designer must encapsulate not only the band’s attitude and tone with the work, but also impart the feel of the album or tour that the poster is announcing. And speaking of announcements, the posters must seamlessly incorporate the typography that tells the reader the names, dates, and places of import. All the while maintaining the impact of the piece, and not overworking or overfilling the area and detracting from it’s overall arrangement.
So many shining examples of this exist in the art community, and in this episode of Monday Inspiration we present 60 inspiring concert poster designs from 10 amazing artists. The links at the bottom will take you to sites dedicated to showcasing other wonderful works from the concert poster genre.
Emek
Emek is an awe-inspiring artist with a natural depth and vibrance to his work. From stunningly styled typography to intricately carved creative designs, Emek’s work shines out among his peers, and was an easy addition to this inspiring bunch.
Mike Klay
Mike Klay is a stellar stand-out in the field of concert poster design. His simplicity of style and nature packs so much of the message in such compact creations, using clean, crisp vectors to achieve his task without using all of the available space. Saying so much with so little, is an awesome feat, and Mike Klay achieves this with ease.
Jim Phillips
Jim Phillips’ singular voice and untethered style give his work such a varied and boundless feel that it’s easy to see why his work has spanned generations, standing firmly against the tests of time.
Rex Ray
Rex Ray’s eclectic work in concert poster design combines a retro feel with a piercing, modern attitude that explodes from within his work and captures the attention while tickling the imagination. Rex Ray’s stimulating style can not, and should not be ignored.
Jermaine Rogers
Jermaine Rogers is one of those raw expressive aritsts whose work makes you feel like an addict. It seeps into your skin and excites your senses with it’s bite and it’s dark beauty leaving you longing for more. With his sharp and edgy style, Jermaine Rogers’ work will be inspiring artists for years to come.
Frank Kozik
Frank Kozik stylishly blends a punk rock attitude with intense colors and textures to stamp an imaginative mark on the design community. His no-holds-barred and uncompromising approach to his work, make it easy to see why this creative giant has been credited with reviving this lost artform.
Chris Shaw
Some artists’ work has an aura about it, that creates a tone which radiates from the piece and infects the environment around it. There are not many artists with a voice this vibrant and alive, but Chris Shaw is one of them, and a concert poster list would not be complete without giving this titan of artistic style and complex composition a nod.
Nel ‘Jagmo’ Jacobson
Some artist’s style speaks volumes with the depths of their designs, and the intricate weaving of different elements throughout their work. Nel Jacobson, known also as Jagmo, is the type of artist that can accomplish these amazing feats with ease and simplicity. This inspiring artist consistently uses minimalistic design elements, and then fills the space brilliantly incorporating massive typography with balance and skill.
Craig Howell
For nearly a decade, Craig Howell, has led a charge through the concert poster design community leaving a vibrant and explosive mark in his path. His highly original work has kept his name circulating throughout the industry, and has kept this talented artist in popular demand. With an unmatched voice, and unparalleled vision, this behemoth of beauty is destined to be a classic in the field.
James Rheem Davis
As far as insipiration goes, the work of James Rheem Davis is that rare breed of designer that adeptly captures the very essence of beauty in the dark and macabre. Flawlessly conveying the desired message with near nightmarish representations of a twisted take on the world around. With morbid and melancholy tones to match the images, Davis’ posters have a haunting effect on the viewer.
Last Click
Again, with Chris Shaw’s amazing talents having inspired so many artists in the field, we felt the last click should go to him.
kayla
October 9th, 2008 9:16 amthese are freakin awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :]
jackob bangiel
October 19th, 2008 12:52 pmvery inspiring. ooh ahhh :)
Crystal Danley
October 27th, 2008 10:49 amAnd then there’s…
Pedro Bell
Perhaps the best-known P-Funk artist, Bell and his distinctive style were responsible for illustrating Funkadelic classics such as Cosmic Slop, Tales of Kidd Funkadelic, One Nation Under A Groove, Hardcore Jollies and Uncle Jam Wants You, as well as more recent solo albums for George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars. Bell also pioneered the song illustrations that would accompany P-Funk liner notes.
Beto
December 11th, 2008 2:52 amThere are far better Mars Volta posters available for sale on their site than what was posted here by them
aiko
December 12th, 2008 5:51 amNice post. I am a collector of Concert Posters and there are some good designs here. I always appreciate peoples points of view, and tastes (i dont always agree:) . Maybe you could do a post on early artists like Griffin (He was mentioned). Mouse & Kelley or some of Pollacks works… just a thought. Thanks for the time you put into this post.
necea
January 10th, 2009 7:37 pmoh man, this post is great!
i am trying to design a concert poster myself, and this post gave me a shitload of ideas.
thanks!
Music Executive
February 16th, 2009 2:15 pmI can’t believe Jefferson Wood is not listed here. He is considered by many to be the best tour poster artist in the world, has won 1st place in the Pollstar poster contest several times, and is possibly the most sought after concert poster artist of our time.
mick jagger
November 23rd, 2009 7:22 pmMusic Exec, are you retarded? pimping yourself under a thin disguise is pathetic. That J. Wood is not known or recognized as anything. Wake up and get a clue.
Samuel
November 25th, 2009 2:56 pmMediocre list, nothing to groundbreaking. There are so many unmentioned amazing poster designers that are re-defining what poster art is.. not just re-hashing old ideas. If this list came out 10 years ago, I would have been impressed
online
December 28th, 2009 3:52 amAciu uz idomia informacija
Tim Poster Collector
February 11th, 2010 11:07 am“Mick Jagger”, are YOU retarded? Hello, do you not pay attention to the Pollstar poster contest? That is where actual industry people (agents, managers, talent buyers, marketing, and promoters) vote on the best poster of the year. Out of 700+ posters each year, Emek and Jefferson Wood have one won 1st place in that contest more than anyone. The posters are sent in by the promoters themselves, not the artists.
Furthermore, Emek Golan, Jefferson Wood, Frank Kozik, Rick Griffin, and Bob Masse were listed by Billboard as artists for the Top 25 rock posters of all time. That is out of tens of thousands of posters from the 1950′s to the present. Emek and Griffin have several each in there.
That is what is so nice about art. Everyone draws a little different, and everybody has different taste. So a poster that one person likes, another person could hate. But there are some posters, and artists that stand out from the crowd.
This is what I hate about the internet. I am probably arguing with a 12 year old kid.
eden ferraro
May 8th, 2010 10:42 amthese are posters for a concert . oh wow real cool i am going to make one like this . problaly not exactly the same
thank for the ideas
Daniela
May 10th, 2010 12:30 pmHey can you make a new post about posters 2010, please? I think there came so much new cool stuff out, which is worth a refresh. I recently discovered a José Gonzáles Tour poster (http://en.zwoelf.net/permalink/80) which starts to rust and the typo fades away. I havent seen such poster yet, especially if you know the music it stands for. I would love to see a new posting of what posters you would choose 2010! Redo it! Please :-)
AV Giant
January 24th, 2011 10:23 pmKiller post – thanks for putting this together. Just my 2 pennies, but – a not so well known kid making some great work is Josh Hunter. Check out his Widespread Panic Las Vegas and Reno poster from October 2010 – It’s sexy, it’s dark and he always throws it down when inspired to do so.
Quinn
April 14th, 2011 2:58 amSome nice posters not much a fan of the fu manchu one looks like a free vector but love the flow of the Simian Mobile one and really love the Iggy one.
Anyone seen some of Bill Bartlett’s ones (http://www.gigposterdesign.com).