Original Waldemar Swierzy Poster, KAW - National Publishing Agency - 1984

Artist: Waldemar Swierzy
Dimensions: 98x68 cm

Year of print: 1984
Condition: Excellent


Feast your eyes one of our captivating designs of (*) Waldemar Swierzy showcased in this original poster published on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the National Publishing Agency (KAW - Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza).



(*) Waldemar Świerzy (1931 - 2013) was an internationally acclaimed Polish graphic designer specializing in commercial graphic images and poster art. His work is part of the MoMA collection in New York and has garnered significant awards, including the Grand Prix Tolouse-Lautrec in Paris in 1959, 1st prize at the Sao Paulo Biennial in 1969, Silver Medal at the 4th International Poster Biennale in Warsaw in 1972, Gold Medal at the 6th International Poster Biennale in Warsaw in 1976, 1st Prize at the 2nd International Biennial of Posters in Lahti, Finland, in 1977, Gold Medals in 1965, 1971, 1975, 1989, and Silver Medals in 1977, 1987, 1995, 1999 at the Polish Poster Biennials in Katowice, Poland. Additionally, he received Hollywood Reporter's Awards for the poster in 1975 and 1985, Gold and Bronze Medals at the International Jazz Salon in 1985, and won twelve Prizes of the Year in the 'Best Warsaw Poster' competitions.



The aftermath of World War II marked the genesis of the Polish School of Posters, a revolutionary era in Polish poster art. Commissioned by the newly installed Communist regime, artists were tasked not only with conveying social and political messages but also with promoting various aspects of government-run cultural media such as concerts, exhibitions, film, jazz, opera, theatre, and the circus (cyrk in Polish). While artists adhered to guidelines on messaging and rejected Western values, they enjoyed artistic freedom, resulting in bold and unique designs infused with individual personality, wit, and subversive commentary. Laden with metaphors and symbolism, crafted with handcrafted typography, the posters of the Polish School of Posters significantly influenced the global landscape of graphic design. These highly original designs, characterized by their contemporary appeal, continue to garner admiration to this day.