FLATSTOCK is an ongoing series of exhibitions featuring the work of popular concert poster artists around the world. Presented by the nonprofit American Poster Institute, the traveling show makes annual stops at Reeperbahn in Hamburg, Primavera Sound S.L. in Barcelona, Bumbershoot in Seattle, Pitchfork in Chicago, and SXSW in Austin.
The exhibitions give the general public and music aficionados alike a chance to see fine poster art in person and to meet the artists who created it. (If you happen to be a poster artist yourself, registration for the upcoming show at SXSW will open in early 2017.) These leading gig poster artists are keeping the humble art form as alive and relevant as ever. Here are the best concert poster designs of 2016.
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Factory 43
From the artists:
Located in Seattle, Washington, Factory 43 hand-forges quality graphic goods – including t-shirts, posters, and letterpress cards. Their unique illustrations mix hand-inked drawings, collaged photographs and found textures with quirky subject matter.
Factory 43 is comprised of Andrew Saeger and Veronica Velasco.
Lucius
May 11, 2016
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Gavin Beattie
From the artist:
Tiny Little Horse is a Design Collective based in Dublin, Ireland. Primarily the work takes the form of gig posters both screen-printed and digital. But it has also found it's way onto t-shirts, badges, gallery walls, found objects, shoes, comics and other bits and bobs.
Flatstock 58 / Hamburg 11 / Europe 16
September 21-24, 2016
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Barry Blankenship
From the artist:
I'm a self taught screen printer trying to live my dream job of telling cool stories thru design and illustration.
Ray Lamontagne
Sept 13, 2016
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Travis Bone
From the artist:
I love boldness in shape and form, economy in color, and simplicity over chaos.
Although, I love a little chaos too.
Seu Jorge presents The Life Aquatic
Dec 16, 2016
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Gregg Gordon
From the artist:
Twitter, TBWA/Chiat/Day, Landor Associates, Spin Magazine, KROQ Radio, Live105 Radio, Interscope Records, J Records, ESPN, Bill Graham Presents, DreamWorks Records, and many more, have repeatedly turned to GIGART for their poster, logo, album cover and package design needs.
Capital Cities
November 1, 2016
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Kelsey Gallo
From the artist:
I am a designer, an illustrator and a printer. I love print. I love the tangibility of print. I love the fragrance of ink. I love the tactile sensation of great paper. Thats why I'm a screen printer and spend most of my days with ink up to my elbows. While I do create designs for digital platforms, I feel my poster work is my best work. Gig Posters challenge my typography skills, illustration skills and my color theory knowledge. I'm forced to think about colors and how they interact with each other and the paper color. How to create the design in my head using the fewest colors possible while still being an effective design. I then use a technique that hasn't changed in 50 years to turn that design into a tangible object. Ink and Paper.
PWR BTTM
July 22, 2016
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Hernan Valencia
From the artist:
Hernan Valencia is an Art Director, Designer, illustrator, Screenprinter and Maker. Born in Peru and raised in the States, he is fascinated by how music captivates the imagination and elicits beautiful imagery. Always the perennial student, he is currently refining his skills in animation using After Effects.
Weezer
March 30, 2016
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Dan Stiles
From the artist:
Dan has collaborated with everyone from indie bands to major corporations in creating posters, identities, advertising, custom packaging, and limited edition collectable art and merchandise. His clients range from Arctic Monkeys, Sonic Youth, and Wilco to the X Games, IBM, and Nickelodeon. He draws from a broad swath of influences including skateboard graphics, album covers, modern art, children's books, comics, psychedelia, and vintage advertising.
Wilco
September 4, 2016
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Frida Clements
From the artist:
Frida Clements is a PNW illustrator whose intricate line drawings and nature-inspired palette complements her distinctive Scandinavian aesthetic, in which flora and fauna are frequent subjects.
Joanna Newsom
March 29, 2016
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Mike Klay
From the artist:
A musician and an outdoorsman, his collection of manually screen-printed posters and tees evokes the beauty of nature and the energy of music. Hailing from the South Bay Area in California, "I currently reside in Seattle where it doesn't rain as often as you think. The Pacific Northwest is a frequent backdrop for my art. What began as a silk-screened concert poster has turned into art prints, shirts and other various merchandise."
L7
November 3, 2016