The Modern Poster, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Koichi Sato
Japanese, born 1944
1988
A large offset-lithograph exhibition poster by Koichi Sato that uses a glowing vertical color gradient and fragmented typography to present the idea of the “modern poster.”
A luminous rectangle fades from deep blue through green and yellow to hot pink while oversized letters—some fully visible, many cropped—float and recede against the color field, producing a shimmering optical push-and-pull.
Created for MoMA’s 1988 show, it exemplifies how late-20th-century designers used precise color separations and experimental typography to elevate commercial posters into explorations of color perception and visual hierarchy, connecting Japanese graphic sensibilities with international design trends.
Medium
Offset lithograph
Dimensions
40 1/2 x 28 5/8" (103 x 72.8 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Exhibition Fund
Accession
94.1990
Palette
Exhibitions
