Circus posters have been the poor relation of other branches of the graphic arts, rarely appearing in exhibitions or books on the subject. Yet the circus poster drove the development of large-scale lithographic printing in America and helped establish the entertainment advertising industry. In this gallery talk, Paul Stirton will trace the development of the circus poster from early typographic sheets to the vivid scenes of animals and performers depicted using color lithography.

Paul Stirton is an associate professor at the BGC and editor of “West 86th: A Journal of Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture.”

Please note: Ticket price is for gallery talk only. See Songs from the High Wire for a related concert.