Justin Van Genderen's Film-Centric Travel Posters

Remember those old (and occasionally vaguely racist) illustrated travel posters that beckoned tourists to "Visit Cuba" or "See India," often with beautifully minimalistic artwork? Well, as you know, everything is cyclical and what once was cool shall be made cool again. Case in point: Justin Van Genderen's film inspired travel posters, which masterfully remix the nostalgia of yore (minus any uncomfortably outdated stereotypes, of course) with the pop culture nerdiness of today.

"Los Angeles" Travel Poster Print
Justin Van Genderen
21" x 31.5" - Signed and Numbered
$35 - Limited to 60
Inspired By: Die Hard

"Chicago" Travel Poster Print Justin Van Genderen 21" x 31.5" - Signed and Numbered $40 - Limited to 60 Inspired By: Road to Perdition

"New York" Travel Poster Print Justin Van Genderen 21" x 31.5" - Signed and Numbered $40 - Limited to 60 Inspired By: Ghostbusters

All three of these posters are screen printed and are sure to look quite classy on any wall they adorn. I think my favorite might be the Die Hard inspired "Los Angeles" print, but I'm probably a bit biased since I live in LA and my fiancee currently works at Nakatomi Plaza (also known as Fox Plaza). I could go on ad nauseum about how much I enjoy this series, but I'll sum it up with this: like many of my favorite artists, Justin is incredibly skilled at connecting and melding the geeky film stuff I devour with the world of fine art I affectionately respect (and am just a little intimidated by). In other words: I like it! Now onto my favorite part of this review, the non-review interview part! Justin was nice enough to take some time out of his day and answer a few of my questions about these prints. Check 'em out below!

Posterocalypse: The pop culture travel posters are a great idea and a beautiful melding of the new and old, but what inspired you to start creating them in the first place?

JVG: The first set of travel posters that I created were of various Star Wars Planets. The inspiration for these came to me after re-watching the original Star Wars trilogy and thinking of how old these movies must seem to the newer, younger generation of Star Wars fans. The travel poster idea seemed to be the perfect mix of old style and (relatively) new subject matter. From there the idea spread to thoughts on escapism with famous comic book locations and now to ideas on location playing a role in films with the movie location posters. For me the travel poster is a great medium for combining classic design techniques and ideas on contemporary or pop culture subject matter.

Posterocalypse: Why Die Hard, Ghostbusters and Road to Perdition? What makes these film locales so important? Were there any films or cities that were in contention, but just didn't make the cut?

JVG: I actually started by creating a long list of different film locations that could work as travel destinations. I ended up working with these three movies because in each film I think the location plays a significant role in the story telling. I can't imagine what Die Hard would have been like if it wasn't a NYC Cop in L.A. or if Ghostbusters didn't take place in NYC. I also always loved the scene in Road to Perdition when Tom Hanks character pulls into mobster-era Chicago. Without these specific locations I think these movies would be totally different. I also thought it would be nice to start off this series with 3 of the largest cities in the U.S. I think it helps tie the series together a little better.

Posterocalypse: You've tackled superheroes, the planets of Star Wars, and now three classic films (with Road to Perdition being a modern day classic in my opinion), any thoughts on what the next project will be?

JVG: Hard to say, I'm always trying out new things but I would definitely like to continue with this idea. I still have a long list of possible destinations and I've already started on a couple more prints that concentrate on cities from our future.

A big thanks to Justin for being so responsive and open about his process!

Justin Van Genderen's movie inspired travel posters are currently available for purchase through his 2046 online storefront. The "Los Angeles" print costs $35, while the "New York" and "Chicago" print cost $40. Every design measures 21" x 31.5", is signed and numbered, and is limited to an edition of 60. There are several ways to learn more about the artist, but I'd recommend the following: visit his portfolio (where you can sign up for his mailing list), his various stores (he's got several), and follow him on Twitter @justinvg.

Tim Doyle's "Tears in the Rain" Oversized Art Print

UPDATE (4/25): "Tears in the Rain" is all sold out! Hope you were able to grab one! The post has been updated accordingly.

Tim Doyle's "Tears in the Rain" print was initially released in October 2010 (predating Posterocalypse's existence by only a few months) and has always stuck with me as one of his best designs. Doyle's take on Blade Runner with its neon-drenched mise en scène captures an iconic moment and manages to be both gorgeous and insightful. I missed my chance the first go around, but as luck (and Tim's generosity) would have it, I'll have another opportunity to snag this beauty later today.

"Tears in the Rain" Art Print (Oversized & Glow in the Dark)
Tim Doyle
21" x 40" - Signed and Numbered
Price TBD - Edition Size TBD
Inspired By: Blade Runner

Tim's "Tears in the Rain" poster is strangely zen. There are probably a few hundred other words that would better describe what I mean, but I work with what I have, which in this case is a smallish vocabulary. Now, I'll do my best to expound on my word choice, but please bear with me as I stumble across this explanation. Roy Batty, a replicant who's host to so much inner conflict and exudes so much anger toward human civilization for making him and those like him a disposable second class citizen is not exactly the poster boy for non-violence or mental stability. With that said, Roy does reach an epiphany and finds some modicum of peace when [spoiler alert] he saves the life of Deckard near the film's end. Tim Doyle's print, at least for me, captures that moment perfectly - there's clarity and solace in his artwork, and the lone man / replicant set against a mechanized world filled with smog, smoke stacks and never ending artificial illumination presents Roy with a certain amount of reverence and humility. It probably doesn't hurt that the paper stock color reminds me of rice paper, which immediately elicits feelings of calm and tranquillity. Oh, and there's the iconic dove too. There's also that.

Tim Doyle's "Tears in the Rain" oversized print was released on Tuesday (4/24) at 3 PM CST through his Nakatomi Inc storefront. It was a timed-release print and measures 21" x 40". To learn more about the artist, be sure to visit mrdoyle.com, nakatomiinc.com and follow him on Twitter @NakatomiTim.

Koren Shadmi's "Untitled (Serling)" Art Print

If you're reading today's post, and chances are that you are if you've made it this far (evidently I learned everything I know about writing from Dr. Seuss), you probably have two questions in mind. The first goes something like this: "Could it be true, you actually posted something new two days in a row?" Yes, believe it or not, I'm attempting to write with some semblance of consistency - I'm as surprised as you are. The second being: "When are you going to mention Mondo's recently announced Avengers posters?" Honestly, while I think both prints are really well done, neither has me super pumped and I know everyone else on the Internet is going to be writing about them, so I'd rather mention something potentially less sought-after (even though today's print WAS mentioned on the OMG Posters blog). If you are interested in learning more about Olly Moss' and Tom Whalen's Avengers prints, I'd recommend you head over to the The Huffington Post and follow @MondoNews. Alright, now that that's out of the way, let's move to the main course, which consists of Koren Shadmi's absolutely breathtaking Twilight Zone inspired artwork with a healthy helping of supernatural comeuppance and Serling's pearly-whites on the side! By the way, the teeth are meant to be a garnish. Please don't eat the garnish.

“Untitled (Serling)” Art Print
Koren Shadmi
13" x 19" - Signed and Numbered
$55 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: The Twilight Zone

I think (or at least hope) you'll agree with me when I say, there's not NEARLY enough Twilight Zone inspired art currently available. Sure, there's the occasional gallery show that pops up here and there (and thank God for those), but when you have 156 episodes, each with their own unique cast of characters and sometimes chilling, but always enjoyable tales of morality, it's obvious the surface has just barely been scratched. In truth, it's been quite a while since I've seen a Twilight Zone print I've thoroughly appreciated, which makes me all the happier to state the dry spell is over and promote Shadmi's spectacular "Untitled (Serling)." Koren's art has a soft appearance to it, as if everything is surrounded by a slight and ethereal halo, and his compositions are often surreal and minimalistic in their execution. All of these elements work wonderfully together and really speak to the heart of The Twilight Zone's often thoughtful stories. I would have been completely content had Shadmi only decided to feature a dapper looking Serling sans any embellishments, but the fact that he's overlaid his creation with iconic creatures and moments from the series makes this poster all the better in every conceivable way. Artist Koren Shadmi on his Zone inspired work (taken from his blog):

"The print is a portrait of Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone - a show that, for me, has stood the test of time and remains one of the most original and outstanding series in the history of television. The print features some elements from the show over-imposed on a photo like rendering of Serling. Hope you enjoy this one!"

Koren Shadmi's "Untitled (Serling)" art print is currently available for purchase through Koren's storefront. The poster measures 13" x 19", is limited to an edition of 50 and costs $55. To learn more about Koren Shadmi, checkout korenshadmi.com and follow him on Twitter @KorenShadmi. And if you haven't seen The Twilight Zone, what on Earth are you doing here? Go! Now! Watch them all!

Joshua Budich's "Brutally Cool" Art Print

UPDATE (4/17): I completely missed the Four Rooms reference (Ted the bellhop to the left of Vincent Vega). Thanks go to Andrew Sigmund for the catch and Joshua Budich for the killer poster! The post has been updated accordingly.

It wasn't too long ago that I was praising Budich's The City of Lost Children poster, but damn if the man doesn't continue to create some of the prettiest film-inspired artwork around! If you couldn't already tell, today's entry is in honor of Joshua's Tarantino-centric "Brutally Cool" art print. Which by the way, is on sale RIGHT NOW! Check it out!

"Brutally Cool" Art Print
Joshua Budich
12" x 18" - Signed and Numbered
$25 - Limited to 150
Inspired By: Inglourious Basterds, Kill Bill, Death Proof,
Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Reservoir Dogs, Four Rooms

Joshua Budich's "Brutally Cool" poster has me convinced that he needs to do an Inglourious Basterds print (and on the double). I mean, checkout that Aldo stubble and swastika-carving blade - it's a thing of beauty! Budich's ode to Tarantino captures the titular "Cool" with his usual style and aplomb, but more importantly exudes complete badassery - something Tarantino's films do often and without hesitation. Then again, if you're placing Jules Winnfield (played by Samuel L. Jackson) at the forefront of your design, you're guaranteed at least an 11 out of 10 on the Bad Mofo scale (not to be confused with a Chromatic scale). And while "Brutally Cool" may not be the most colorful work in Joshua's arsenal, the use of color is wholly appropriate and really pops in all the right (and bloody) ways.

Joshua Budich's "Brutally Cool" poster is currently available through Budich's store for $25 plus shipping. The print measures 12" x 18", is signed and numbered, and is limited to an edition of 150. To learn more about Mr. Budich, be sure to checkout his interview with Nerdlocker, which will be appearing at nerdlocker.com and head over to joshuabudich.com. Alright, all this writing has really worked up an appetite. I think I'm going to grab a Royale with cheese. Good luck all!

Richey Beckett's "Mac Wants the Flamethrower" Art Print

UPDATE (4/9): Wow. That was fast! Richey's "Mac Wants the Flamethrower" is now completely sold out. If you missed your chance to pick one up, I'm sure a few will be popping up on eBay or Expresso Beans in the next few days.

I've covered a decent amount of Thing inspired artwork on Posterocalypse, but this may be my favorite piece yet. Originally created for the Mondo Gallery's opening in Austin, Richey Beckett's "Mac Wants the Flamethrower" is an insanely detailed and and creative tribute to John Carpenter's landmark The Thing.

"Mac Wants the Flamethrower" Art Print
Richey Beckett
450mm x 320mm (17.7" x 12.6") - Signed and Numbered
£20 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: The Thing

What a gorgeous work of art! Richey Beckett, an artist I wasn't familiar with in the slightest, has put himself on the map with this grotesque goody. Beckett captures the sinewy alien tendrils in all their gory glory, yet manages to imbue his snapshot with an otherworldly beauty. The living cords erupting from the canine body remind me of a spear or arrow, while the fibrous coils encircling the creature's neck and paws could easily be mistaken for a ranch hand's lasso. I mention all of this to suggest there's something innately primal present in this print. If you couldn't already tell, this is one of those posters that will need to be seen in person to be believed. And can someone please have this guy start working on some art for a Cronenberg flick already? I'm thinking Videodrome, The Fly, eXistenZ, Rabid, Scanners, and The Brood (in that order). What say you? For those unfamiliar with the film, here's the clip that inspired Beckett's art.

Richey Beckett's The Thing inspired "Mac Wants the Flamethrower" art print is available right now for £20 (approximately $32) through Beckett's online store. The print measures 450mm x 320mm and is limited to an edition of 50. To learn more about artist Richey Beckett, be sure to visit richeybeckett.com, follow him on Twitter @richeybeckett, and check out his store.

Johsua Budich's "The City of Lost Children" Movie Poster

Apologies for the lack of updates everyone. I've been not quite sick, not quite healthy for the last two weeks and it appears the NyQuil / DayQuil induced haze is just now lifting, meaning I can (hopefully) write coherent sentences and process (somewhat) rational thoughts. Now on with the show!

It's been far too long since I've last mentioned Joshua Budich on Posterocalypse. Alright, alright, that's not entirely true - I wrote about his Weird Al piece in my review of Gallery 1988's "Is This Thing On? 2" show last month, but I think his name bears repeating due to the incredible City of Lost Children posters he created in cooperation with Spoke Art for the Castro Theatre's Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Film Series.

The City of Lost Children Movie Poster (Regular)
Joshua Budich
24" x 36" - Numbered & Signed Certificate of Authenticity
$50 - Limited to 200

The City of Lost Children Movie Poster (Glow in the Dark Variant)
Joshua Budich
24" x 36" - Numbered & Signed Certificate of Authenticity
$75 - Limited to 50
Note: This is an Approximation of What the Print Looks Like at Night

I think Joshua's poster in tribute to the magical City of Lost Children is pretty fantastic. Not only because it's a really well put together print, which it clearly is, but because it feels like a riskier choice from an artist whose pop-culture inspired work usually celebrates the more mainstream cinematic successes. That's not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, but it does make his Lost Children artwork all the more exciting in my opinion. Similar in many ways to Ken Taylor's shrine-like City of Lost Children layout, Budich's poster is built like a skyscraper made up of the remarkably bizarre visages that became a calling card of sorts for directors Caro and Jeunet throughout their shared filmography. However, unlike Taylor's Mondo-commissioned entry, Joshua Budich's prints are anchored by the character Uncle Irvin (also known as the floating brain) and centers around a child connected to the dream stealing device while suspended in some sort of ectoplasmic channel. Long story short: while Ken Taylor's poster seems to delight in the steam punk aspects of City of Lost Children, Joshua's design is a more streamlined character-based take on the film. And given the strangely epic scope of this cinematic Rube Goldberg device, I think there's more than enough room for both posters to peacefully exist (and even thrive).

Lobby Card: Fifth Element and City of Lost Children Double Bill
Joshua Budich
8" x 10" - Numbered
First 50 Attendees Receive One for Free - Limited to 100

Both of The City of Lost Children posters will be available at the Castro Theatre on Friday (4/6) during the film's screening. Provided the posters don't sell out Friday night, the remaining inventory will be made available through Spoke Art's online store on Monday (4/9) at 3 PM PST. The regular screen print is limited to an edition of 200, measures 24" x 36" and will cost $50, while the glow in the dark variant will be limited to an edition 50 and will cost $75. To keep up with Spoke Art's release info be sure to follow them on Twitter @Spoke_Art and sign up for their newsletter at spoke-art.com. To learn more about artist Joshua Budich, head over to joshuabudich.com and follow Josh on Twitter @jbudich.