Spoke Art's "Scorsese" Show Preview

Spoke Art has conquered the whimsical world of Wes Anderson, the bloody universe of Tarantino, and the Coen Brothers' darkly comedic landscape, but it's the outfit's newest endeavor which may prove to be its most potent. "Scorsese: An Art Show Tribute," which will heretofore simply be referred to as "Scorsese," is set to feature a bevy of amazing artworks, all of which are inspired by the man who brought us Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino, Shutter Island and Hugo.

"Scorsese: An Art Show Tribute" Gig Poster
Joshua Budich

That's all well and good, but I'm sure the question we're all grappling with is how many prints, paintings, and sculptures will be dedicated to the transcendent Boxcar Bertha? Am I right? In all seriousness, this is going to be a killer show and it brings me great pleasure to give you a taste of what's to come. But before I do that, let's hear a little more about "Scorsese" from the folks at Spoke Art:

"Acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese is to be honored this weekend (April 19th - 21st, 2013) in a dynamic art exhibition featuring over one hundred original works of art from an international roster of painters, sculptors and printmakers.

Known for his New York-centric filmography, which includes cinematic classics such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Gangs of New York and Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese is widely regarded as one of the most important working directors in film today. With his recent five Oscars wins at the 2012 Academy Awards for his most recent film, Hugo, the 71 year old director continues to prove his relevance in modern cinema history.

On Friday, April 19th, Spoke Art Gallery of San Francisco, CA will debut a special weekend-long pop up exhibition in Chelsea, New York City, dedicated to the storied filmography of the legendary director. Over 70 artists from around the world have created new and original works of art in honor of Mr. Scorsese in an eclectic showing of over one hundred paintings, sculptures and screen prints."

Now on with the preview!

Artist: Tracie Ching
Inspired By: Boardwalk Empire (2010)

Artist: Serge Gay Jr.
Inspired By: Taxi Driver (1976)

Artist: Scott Campbell
Inspired By: Gangs of New York (2002)

Artist: Sandi Calistro
Inspired By: Shutter Island (2010)

Artist: Samuel "Sho" Ho
Inspired By: Taxi Driver (1976)

Artist: Rich Pellegrino
Inspired By: Raging Bull (1980)

Artist: Ibraheem Youssef
Inspired By: Raging Bull (1980)

Artist: Steven Hughes
Inspired By: Gangs of New York (2002)

Artist: Joshua Budich
Inspired By: Raging Bull (1980)

Artist: Joshua Budich

Artist: Joel Phillips

Ibraheem Youssef
Inspired By: Casino (1995)

Artist: Meghan Stratman
Inspired By: Hugo (2011)

Artist: Epyon5
Inspired By: Gangs of New York (2002)

Grzegorz Domaradzki (aka Gabz)
Inspired By: Taxi Driver (1976)

Artist: Chuck Sperry
Inspired By: Casino (1995)

Artist: Alexander Iaccarino
Inspired By: The Departed (2006)

Artist: Aaron Jasinski
Inspired By: Gangs of New York (2002)

As a quick heads up, Spoke Art's "Scorsese" show opens this Friday (4/ 19) at the Bold Hype Gallery on 547 W27th St. in New York's Chelsea arts district. Be sure to visit spoke-art.com, their Facebook page, and follow @spoke_art on Twitter for more info.

Best Of: Spoke Art's "Mucho Machismo" Art Show

First things first, apologies for the lack of updates everyone. It's been a busy, busy, week or two for me recently. I not only left my job of several years last Friday, I'm getting married this weekend. Separately, those two things would probably be enough to throw me off my game or, at the very least, interrupt my regularly scheduled posting. But together, they've created the perfect storm that has made publishing anything on Posterocalypse all but impossible these past few days. So, here goes nothing.

I heard about "Mucho Machismo" a few weeks ago and was instantly intrigued. For those of you with your head cocked sideways and a quizzically raised eyebrow, "Mucho Machismo" is a poster show put on by Spoke Art and curated by artist Jon Smith. Here's Jon's mission statement (taken from his blog):

"Violence is cool. So are guns and explosions. When it’s fake. It’s okay to be tough and flex your muscles as long as you’re a good guy and you say your prayers and take your vitamins like a real American. Pain don’thurt.

These are just some of the truths prescribed from the hyper violent media that saturated the late 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The golden age of the action movie, professional wrestling and the dawn of arcade fighting games and the first person shooter provided endless yet completely ridiculous entertainment to generations.

'Mucho Machismo' embraces the spirit of this era as modern action movies are now PG-13 and video games are hyper realistic and less cartoony in their violence."

I, like many of you, reveled in the over-the-top violence of yesteryear, when the kicks and punches were often as badass as they were hilariously ridiculous. And I can assure you that "Mucho Machismo" sports some of the most unapologetically testosterone-filled artwork I've seen all year...and it's a beautiful, beautiful thing. Jon has assembled an A-list group of folks and put something together that should speak to the heart of anyone who fondly remembers when high fives were without irony and puns were an integral part of the enemy murdering process. Below, I've selected a few of my favorite pieces from the show that still happen to be available for purchase, but in all honesty, there's not a bad apple in the bunch.

"They Live" Art Print
Smithe
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 100
Inspired By: They Live

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum." These are the words that changed a generation! Okay, hmm, maybe it wasn't that big a deal, but I think we can all agree that They Live is a great snapshot of 80s sci-fi action, features some amazing ideas, and boasts one of the most ridiculous fight scenes ever filmed. I don't know much about Smithe, but I love this print's execution and am really digging his line work. Smithe's "They Live" print is currently available through Spoke Art's storefront for $50. To see more of the artist's work, be sure to check out his Tumblr. Consume. Obey.

"Commando" Art Print Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz) 18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered & COA $50 - Limited to 50 Inspired By: Commando

"Rambo" Art Print Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz) 18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered & COA $50 - Limited to 50 Inspired By: Rambo

If it's Gabz, I'm in. It's that simple. Does it help that these prints celebrate the kings of 80s manliness? Well, yeah, of course it does! But it's Grzegorz's consistently gorgeous work and obvious passion for film that really take his art to the next level. I'm telling you, this guy is going to be making some big waves this year and next. I can feel it. (Note: I'm cheating a little bit by including both prints in just one section, but I'm having a hard time thinking about these posters apart from one another for too long, and I think we all know about Rambo's well documented separation anxiety and kennel cough.) The "Commando" and "Rambo" giclée are now available for $50 each. For more about info on Gabz, head over to iamgabz.com.

"Wez" Art Print
Kraken
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 100
Inspired By: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Kraken's Mad Max 2 inspired print is straight up terrifying. The artist took what was already a great character and somehow made Wez even more primal and predatory looking. Just a quick aside, this show has really exposed me to some great new artists. Case in point: I had absolutely no familiarity with Kraken initially, but thanks to "Mucho Machismo" will now be closely following. The "Wez" poster is available for purchase at $50. To see more of Kraken's work, be sure to visit krakenkhan.com and follow @krakenkhan on Twitter.

"All Hail the New Flesh" Art Print
Godmachine
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered
$50 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Videodrome

This may be the most cerebral piece of this bunch and I'm completely okay with that, because not only was the print inspired by David Cronenberg's best film (just my opinion - hold the hate mail, please), the poster was also conceived and created by artist / mastermind Godmachine. Beyond illustrating the film's grotesque / amazing flesh-gun, the artist has his boob tube for the 21st century set. It took me a while to figure it out, but there's an iPhone button on the right side of the set. It's little details like that that make this print stand out and show how clever an artist Godmachine is. "All Hail the New Flesh" is now available for $50 and is limited to an edition of 50. You can learn more about the artist by visiting his blog and following him on Twitter @godmachineuk.

"It's Always Sunny on Mars" Art Print Tim Doyle 16" x 20" (Screen Print) - S / N $40 - Limited to 80 Inspired By: Too Many Things to Count

"Murphy Delivers the Law" Art Print Tim Doyle 18" x 24" (Screen Print) - S / N $40 - Limited to 80 Inspired By: Robocop and Terminator

What's not to love here? While a few of the artists featured in "Mucho Machismo" may have played their prints a little more straight and narrow, Tim Doyle aimed right for the funny bone. For example, "It's Always Sunny on Mars" cleverly references It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Total Recall, and motherf-ing Twins (and possibly even Junior!) Say, what?! The artistic and logical contortions necessary to make these posters work is incredibly impressive and speaks volumes about Tim's delightfully twisted imagination. "It's Always Sunny on Mars" and "Murphy Deliver's the Law" are available through Spoke Art for $40 each, which makes these the most affordable prints in my post. To learn more about Tim Doyle, head over to nakatomiinc.com and follow @NakatomiTim on Twitter.

"Up Up, Down Down..." Art Print
Oliver Barrett
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered
$60 - Limited to 50

Last, but definitely not least, we arrive at Oliver Barrett's Contra meets Aliens meets Commando / Predator meets Rambo mishmash. Can I just ask, why wasn't this a real game? What gives? While Konami may have failed us on that front, it's clear that Barrett came to the party guns loaded (with pixelated ammunition) and delivered something that's a true pleasure to behold. Now I'm getting a little misty-eyed thinking about my complete inability to beat that game without using +30 lives cheat code. Time to download an emulator! Barrett's "Up Up, Down Down..." is now available for $60. For more info on the artist, visit ohbarrett.com and follow him @oliverbarrett.

That's all folks! Have a great morning and I'll return later today with a "Best Of" on Bottleneck Gallery's latest exhibit!

Write Up: Grzegorz Domaradzki's "Raging Bull" Movie Posters

Prints like these are the whole reason I created Posterocalypse. I mean that. There's something incredibly satisfying about seeing an artist's work who you've come to respect (and write about) go from a jaw-dropping, but ultimately unattainable, collection of concept illustrations in his Behance portfolio, to now being able to purchase that very artwork you've drooled over for what feels like an eternity. Actually, let's rewind a bit, I'm feeling talkative. Grzegorz Domaradzki ("Gabz") is someone I've been following for a while now (no, not in a "I'm calling from inside your house" sort of way) and was one of the first artists I ever wrote about here. It was January 31st in the Year of our Lord two thousand and eleven, the site had been around for a little over a month, and I was desperately trying to figure out what Posterocalypse was / is / could be (for the record: I'm still not sure). Racked with the sort of indecisive apathy that often accompanies any twentysomething worth his weight in Pringles that decides to create a blog in that most sacred of periods often referred to as "free time" (also known as the 72 hours I was neither working at my soul-crushing job or sleeping in my lumpy bed), I needed to find something that excited me. Well, I found it and its name was "Grzegorz Domaradzki's Vector Movie Posters," or rather, that was the title of my post about Grzegorz Domaradzki's vector movie posters. Long story short, I was blown away by Gabz's Raging Bull artwork and had this to say about the piece:

"And last but not least, we have this wonderful Raging Bull poster. This poster may be my favorite as it perfectly captures the film's beautiful black and white cinematography and much like the boxing bouts, is very minimal except for the flashing bulbs of the reporters. Will somebody please make these posters a reality?!" - Me (1/31/2011)

And here we are! There's an actual Raging Bull print by Grzegorz Domaradzki coming out on Friday (8/24) through Spoke Art! This either means the poster gods are real, love to read art blogs, grant wishes, and watch Minecraft strategy videos on Youtube, or (and this one is far more likely), a ton of other people saw what a talent this guy is and decided they would be stupid not to work with him. Without further ado, here's the art that inspired this lengthy jumble of words and run-on sentences.

Raging Bull Movie Poster (Regular - English)
Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz)
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Numbered
$40 - Limited to 75

Raging Bull Movie Poster (Variant - Polish)
Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz)
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Numbered
$75 - Limited to 25

I love, love, love these prints! Gabz's frenzied line work evokes La Motta's mercurial nature and the quote below De Niro's bust provides that one-two punch to the gut. Also, I'm not sure what it is about foreign languages, I feel the same way about Doyle's and Moss' Japanese prints, maybe it's the otherworldliness of a recognizable image, coupled with words I can't hope to read or understand, but I find it lends the Polish versions of the Raging Bull posters a beautifully strange and surreal quality (which I'm quite partial to). Finally, I really admire the visible restraint on display. To go a bit further, by constructing the background almost completely without detail except for the diffused light from the flashes of the reporting press, Jake La Motta's head is that much bolder and set apart from the world around him. It makes for a beautiful and startling effect.

Raging Bull Movie Poster (Regular - Polish)
Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz)
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Numbered
$40 - Limited to 75

Raging Bull Movie Poster (Variant - English)
Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz)
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Numbered
$75 - Limited to 25

Grzegorz Domaradzki's Raging Bull screen prints will be available at a random time on Friday (8/24) through Spoke Art's online store. Warning: these posters are gonna go fast, so be sure to follow @Spoke_Art on Twitter for the exact drop time! To learn more about artist Gabz, be sure to checkout iamgabz.com and his Facebook page.

Grzegorz Domaradzki's "Drive" Movie Posters

In case you didn't already know, I'm a huge fan of Grzegorz Domaradzki (aka Gabz). His artwork manages to operate in the grey area between being anarchic, giving all of his work a kinetic quality that's hard to define, and featuring some of the most precise and calculated line work I've ever seen. Oh, and did I mention this is a poster for my (and hopefully your) favorite film of last year? That's right. Drive. Do you really need any more reasons to pick this print up?

Drive Movie Poster (Regular Edition)
Grzegorz Domaradzki (aka Gabz)
24" x 36" (Screen Print) - Numbered
$60 - Limited to 300

Drive Movie Poster (Variant Edition)
Grzegorz Domaradzki (aka Gabz)
24" x 36" (Screen Print) - Numbered
$60 - Limited to 50

As previously stated, Domaradzki's work is at once deliberate while also buzzing with life and unpredictability. This combination makes for art that's impossible to look away from and is sure to attract those who are also fans of poster giants Tyler Stout and Martin Ansin. I personally favor the variant, but honestly, both versions are wall-worthy purchases. While the regular edition reminds me of the neon-drenched night scenes in Drive, the variant exudes an inescapable searing Los Angeles heat. Ultimately, each poster's color palette comes to represent a different side of the same coin - a really, really beautiful rare coin. Gabz' composition also suggests the interconnectedness of Driver (played with unrelenting intensity by Gosling) and the many relationships he forms throughout the film's runtime by literally connecting all of the main characters within the piercing visage of our lead badass. However, there are hints of Driver's crumbling and fragile facade near the bottom of the poster where Grzegorz subtly depicts our hero's body slowly disintegrating. The above posters offer us a thoughtful take on the film, and for fans of Drive this is a must own.

Drive Poster (Regular) Close-up

Drive Poster (Regular) Close-up

Drive Poster (Variant) Close-up

Drive Poster (Variant) Close-up

Gabz's Drive posters are currently being funded through Kickstarter and can be purchased for $60 or $120, depending on whether you want both or just the one. Both posters measure 24" x 36" and are numbered, with the regular version being limited to 300 and the variant being limited to 50. These officially licensed prints were commissioned by DzXtinKt Originals, whose goal is to provide high quality, affordable, limited edition posters for a diverse selection of TV shows and movies. If this is any indication of the quality we'll be seeing from DzXtinKt, I can't wait to see what they do next. To learn more about DzXtinKt Originals head over to Kickstarter right now and while you're there be sure to support some very cool art by pledging some of your hard-earned mula! To see more of artist Gabz' work, checkout iamgabz.com.

Grzegorz Domaradzki and Brandon Schaefer's "The Warriors" Movie Posters

I like Mondo as much as the next guy, nay, I feel entirely comfortable saying I love Mondo more than the next guy. I mean, for all I know, the next guy doesn't even collect posters. Maybe he's obsessed with creepy dead-eyed porcelain dolls. And why won't he tell me his name? Does he really expect me to refer to him as "The Next Guy" whenever I talk about him? I don't like it. Seems shady. So, in summation: I love Mondo. But as fond as I am of Mondo (and dislike "The Next Guy"), I'm just as excited, maybe even more so, about what's going on with galleries and groups like Spoke Art. The reason? Competition is good thing for us art lovers. It forces both Mondo and Spoke Art, among many many others, to consistently step up their game. And as you'll see below, San Francisco-based Spoke Art in collaboration with The Castro Theatre has really hit this one out of the park.

The Warriors Movie Poster
Grzegorz Domaradzki
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 100

I'd like to start this review off with a quick "Hell yes!" because Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz) is officially back in action. Hell yes! I last wrote about Gabz in October of 2011 and it's been far too long since he released any movie inspired art. Thankfully, Spoke Art and The Castro Theatre have seen fit to remedy this problem, commissioning him to create a poster for the 1979 cult classic The Warriors. In a word: electric. Domaradzki's illustration feels alive and possibly even dangerous. A lot of that tension comes from his line work, which is precise, unerring and completely unpredictable, suggesting we, the viewer, may not be able to fit these people or their actions into neat little boxes. Alright, I'm stepping off of my pretentious soap box now. It's time for a simple truth. This poster is just plain kickass. And I haven't even mentioned the aggressive crimson color palette, the wonderful use of negative space, and the seamlessly interspersed graffiti, all of which give this poster an appropriate "don't mess with me or I'll blow you're f**king head off" vibe. Much scarier than the Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot vibe, isn't it? Yeah, I went there. Unfortunately, this print is already sold out, but there's always eBay or Expresso Beans for the truly ravenous. To learn more about artist Grzegorz Domaradzki, be sure to checkout iamgabz.com and his Facebook page.

The Warriors Movie Poster
Brandon Schaefer
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 100

I feel a little sick. I've been following Brandon Schaefer of seekandspeak.com fame for quite a while, and I'm only now mentioning him on Posterocalypse. I remember first discovering Mr. Schaefer's work after picking up a Monty Python and the Holy Grail poster of his from Gallery 1988's "Crazy 4 Cult" show a few years back and have kept track of the guy ever since. Anyway, I'm glad I finally get to write about his work, and definitely plan to cover more of Brandon's art in the near future. Now, onto the reason why you're actually here. Schaefer's Warriors print could not be more different than Grzegorz's, and that's exactly why it works. The majority of Warriors posters, including the first design included in this post, tend to highlight the crazy players over the locales. And why wouldn't they? The costumes and make-up are pretty outrageous, but in my opinion, each location is just as important to the story and could easily qualify as a character unto itself. Brandon's poster is one of the few to truly highlight the locales over the gang members, which is a pretty novel idea and seems wholly appropriate given how important the setting, and more specifically, the subway system, is to the film. It's a beautiful print and is sure to be treasured by any Warriors fan, although I'm a little bummed this wasn't a screen print, as it looks like the perfect candidate for the process. Brandon Schaefer's gorgeous Warriors movie poster is currently available through the Spoke Art store for $40. The poster measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 100. If you're interested in seeing more of Brandon's art, head over to seekandspeak.com and follow him on Twitter @seekandspeak.

One last thing. This goes without saying, but be sure to visit Spoke Art, their Tumblr, follow them @spoke_art, sign up for their newsletter, and peruse their store!

Best Twenty Posters of 2011

Wow. This was a really, really, REALLY difficult post for me to compile, and there's a pretty good chance that if you asked me what my favorite posters from 2011 were a week from now, you might get something slightly different. With that said, I think I've created a pretty kickass list and, believe it or not, they're not all Mondo releases! When putting this together, the only restriction I imposed on myself was that all eligible artwork had to actually be purchasable at some point last year. Now onto the good stuff!

1. AKIRA Movie Posters by Tyler Stout

Akira Movie Poster (Regular)
Tyler Stout
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 180

Akira Movie Poster (Variant)
Tyler Stout
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 80

I can't get over how stunning these prints are! Tyler Stout has somehow created something that is 100% Tyler Stout, and yet completely different than anything he's ever attempted before. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of his much sought after The Thing and Robocop prints, but this, THIS, is the Stout artwork I long to own. The amount of stuff he was able to pack into these works of art is mind blowing and totally reminds me of the insanity that is Tetsuo's telekinetically rebuilt trash arm. Love it!

2. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Movie Posters by Olly Moss (Review)

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster (Regular)
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 420

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster (Japanese Variant)
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 170

Mondo? Olly Moss? Studio Ghibli? Hallelujah! Olly absolutely nailed the look and feel of this Miyazaki classic, taking care to balance beauty, adorableness, and the almighty forest spirit Totoro. Take note folks: this is how you do a variant. By the way, I recently rewatched My Neighbor Totoro. So good!

3. THE MUMMY Movie Posters by Martin Ansin (Review)

The Mummy Movie Poster (Regular)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 385

The Mummy Movie Poster (Hieroglyphic Variant)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 150

My love affair with Martin Ansin's work continues and this was by far my favorite piece from him in 2011. Not surprisingly, Martin packs so much realism and detail into the mummy's bandaged and shriveled face, that the idea of touching the poster's surface gives me the willies. And remember what I said about the Totoro variant? Well, it holds true for this print as well. Yes, those are actual hieroglyphics people!

4. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Movie Posters by Grzegorz Domaradzki (Review)

Night of the Living Dead Movie Poster (Regular)
Grzegorz Domaradzki
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 250

Night of the Living Dead Movie Poster (Glow in the Dark - Silver Variant)
Grzegorz Domaradzki
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 100

Grzegorz Domaradzki is an artist to watch out for. He's already done some BRILLIANT vector movie concept posters, but this was his first film poster design to actually become a screen print, and it's a pretty amazing one at that. I guess I've got a thing for skulls, because there's not one, but two posters on this list that come together to form the outline of a skull. Very creepy. By the way, a few of the regular versions are still available for sale through Kryptonite Prints & Apparel.

5. DUNE Movie Poster by Kevin Tong (Review)

Dune Movie Poster
Kevin Tong
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100

I had to pick this print up on eBay after it sold out in the blink of an eye, but the inflated price was well worth it. Seriously, this poster is loaded to the brim with desert, sandworms, and backstabbing nobles (oh my). And no matter what you think about the film Dune (I'll admit it's kind of crazy and not a total success), you've got to applaud Kevin Tong for perfectly capturing the insanity of David Lynch's adaptation.

6. HELLRAISER Movie Posters by Florian Bertmer

Hellraiser Movie Poster (Regular)
Florian Bertmer
22.5" x 31.5" - Numbered
Limited to 245

Hellraiser Movie Poster (Variant)
Florian Bertmer
22.5" x 31.5" - Numbered
Limited to 70

Nobody depicts satanic stuff better than Florian Bertmer. That's just a fact. His artwork makes my skin crawl (in a good way), which is why I'm fairly certain Florian has at some point either made a pact with the Prince of Darkness or solved the Lament Configuration, thereby gaining access to the forbidden arts. This was my favorite poster from the Mondo Mystery Movie LA film series by leaps and bounds, and that's saying a lot given all the talent involved.

7. FRANKENSTEIN Movie Poster by Drew Struzan (Review)

Frankenstein Movie Poster
Drew Struzan
15" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 325

It's freaking Drew Struzan! Of course he was going to make the top ten. His gorgeous Frankenstein poster reminds us why he's still the undisputed king of the illustrated one sheet and pays tribute to a monster movie classic. Following Stout's Akira print, Struzan's Frankenstein is probably the most sought after poster in my top twenty.

8. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST Movie Posters by Oliver Barrett (Review)

Once Upon a Time in the West Movie Poster (Dawn Edition - Regular)
Oliver Barrett
16" x 26" - Numbered
Limited to 170

Once Upon a Time in the West Movie Poster (Dusk Edition - Variant)
Oliver Barrett
16" x 26" - Numbered
Limited to 60

I love these posters! Oliver Barrett is an artist I've been following since his amazing American Splendor print, but I think I may have found my new favorite when it comes to his body of work. And remember what I was saying about my subconscious and altogether creepy fascination with skulls being masterfully inserted into movie artwork (please refer to number four on this list)? Well, here's the second (and final) creative cranium mentioned in this post. These are completely sold out through Tommy Good, but a few are still available for purchase through Oliver's store and Dark City Gallery.

9. THE BURNING Movie Poster by Phantom City Creative (Review)

The Burning Movie Poster
Phantom City Creative
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 250

Phantom City Creative has been one of those consistently amazing design studios since day one. If I'm being completely honest with myself, I'm sure I could have included several Phantom City designs in this list, but this was by far my favorite poster of theirs in 2011. The Burning is a ridiculous 80s slasher that features a not-yet-bald Jason Alexander, but I'll be damned if this poster doesn't somehow make the movie a more respectable work of art just by association. Beautiful design. Perfect execution. Blood rendered in biblical proportions. Flawless.

10. “FIGURE 1: VULPES VULPES” Art Print by Rich Kelly (Review)

"Figure 1: Vulpes Vulpes" Art Print
Rich Kelly
16.5" x 23.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100
Inspired By: The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox isn't my all-time favorite Wes Anderson flick, that honor goes to The Life Aquatic, but it's definitely up there. This amazing Rich Kelly art print inspired by Anderson's lone animated creation is just a joy to look at. Kelly masterfully depicts the titular Mr. Fox, but also manages to comment on the stop motion production method with gorgeous results.

11. "THE OPEN ROAD" Art Print by Scott Campbell (Review)

"The Open Road" Art Print
Scott Campbell
12" x 12" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 50
Inspired By: Easy Rider

I wasn't sure if this was ever going to be an actual print, since the above artwork was originally part of a larger movie poster for the All Tomorrow's Parties / Criterion Collection screening of Easy Rider, but here we are. Scott Campbell's amazing "The Open Road" poster is one of the jewels in my collection and is still available for purchase through Gallery 1988.

12. THE LIFE AQUATIC Movie Poster by Joshua Budich (Review)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Movie Poster
Joshua Budich
24" x 36" - Signed & Numbered
Limited to 150

Joshua Budich has been an artist that has consistently amazed me and continues to one-up himself with every new poster release. Created for Spoke Art's awesome "Bad Dads" show, Budich's Life Aquatic poster conveys the quirky, colorful, strangely hilarious brilliance of Steve Zissou and company. Highlights include: Seu Jorge playing guitar in the lower right corner, the candy-striped seahorse mucking around under the title, and an angry gun-toting Steve Zissou front and center.

13. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE Movie Poster by Jeff Proctor (Review)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Jeff Proctor
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 345

Jeff Proctor really made a name for himself this year with a number of amazing Mondo posters including, but not limited to: Hobo with a Shotgun, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dawn of the Dead, and of course The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This print is utterly horrifying and practically exudes unyielding Texan summer heat...and chainsaw wielding psychopaths. That too.

14. FAIL-SAFE Movie Poster by Lloyd Stas (Review)

Fail-Safe Movie Poster
Lloyd Stas
18" x 24" - Numbered
Limited to 35

Lloyd Stas' brilliant Fail-Safe print combines the obvious and the subtle with amazing results. I think it's safe to say that even if you haven't seen Sidney Lumet's Cold War what if film, you can still enjoy the obvious care and attention paid to this artwork during its conception and creation. Lloyd Stas is another young artist to be on the look out for.

15. DEATHRAP Movie Poster by Jacob Van Loon (Review)

Deathtrap Movie Poster
Jacob Van Loon
18" x 24" - Numbered
Limited to 35

Much like Lloyd Stas' Fail-Safe print, Jacob Van Loon's Deathtrap poster was part of the Kingdom of Nonsense curated "The Machines Are Winning" art show. When I first saw Jacob's design I was immediately drawn in by the confusingly convoluted intertwining of machine and Cronenbergian sentient life form. Is anybody else getting a vague Naked Lunch vibe from this print? If this is any indication of what we can expect form Jacob Van Loon, I hope he starts doing a lot more film-related stuff in the near future.

16. FANTASTIC MR. FOX Movie Poster by Randy Ortiz (Review)

“We Got the Tail, but We Missed the Fox” Fantastic Mr. Fox Movie Poster
Randy Ortiz
18" x 24" - Includes a certificate of authenticity
Limited to 75

Randy Ortiz is somebody I didn't have the slightest familiarity with prior to 2011, but am now avidly following. It's even been intimated that he might do some work with Mondo in the near future - so that's cool. With his Fantastic Mr. Fox print, Randy has crafted something that's minimalist, but by no means simple. I can't wait to see what else this guy has up his sleeves.

17. THEY LIVE Movie Posters by Shepard Fairey (Review)

They Live Movie Poster (Mondo Edition - Regular)
Shepard Fairey
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 500

They Live Movie Poster (OBEY Edition - Variant)
Shepard Fairey
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 500

How could I not include Fairey's only Mondo movie poster on my list? I don't think there's a single artist better equipped to handle John Carpenter's alien invasion meets 1984 by way of Fahrenheit 451 film than street artist Shepard Fairey. This goes without saying, but the print is very pretty up close.

18. PAN'S LABYRINTH Movie Posters by Aaron Horkey

Pan's Labyrinth Movie Poster (Regular)
Aaron Horkey
15" x 37.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 420

Pan's Labyrinth Movie Poster (Variant)
Aaron Horkey
15" x 37.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 125

If I had to choose (please don't make me), I'd have to say that Pan's Labyrinth is my favorite Guillermo del Toro film. It's a wonderful story that blends the real and the fantastical, and is as horrifying as it is beautiful on both counts. Aaron Horkey seems to understand that and has created a print that's gorgeous to look at, but also a bit disturbing.

19. SWAMP THING Movie Posters by Florian Bertmer (Review)

Swamp Thing Movie Poster (Regular)
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 230

Swamp Thing Movie Poster (Variant)
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 90

If you couldn't tell, I'm a huge Bertmer fan. In fact, he's the only artist on this list mentioned twice. Florian created two insanely exceptional posters this year, and while I slightly preferred his Hellraiser posters over his Swamp Thing prints, they're both pretty much perfect.

20. THE FLY Art Print by Dan Mumford (Review)

Dan Mumford's horror movie art print series has been an absolute blast to follow. His organic and stringy line work is the perfect match to Cronenberg's terrifyingly disgusting remake (I use the word "remake" in the loosest sense here). Brundlefly has never looked more gooey, and yes, that was most definitely a compliment.

Well, that's the list! What did you think? What were some of your favorite posters?