Earth Day 1991 New York City – Vintage Pop Art Poster by Seymour Chwast

“Earth Day 1991 New York City” – a vintage color commemorative poster celebrating Earth Day in New York City, was designed by Seymour Chwast. The poster is offered unframed, ships rolled.

The print paper is Fox River Circa Select, 80 LB cover “Burlap, Supplied by Fax River Paper Company. It was printed with vegetable-based inks on recycled paper by Eco-Support Graphics/Haff & Daughterty.

The main image illustrates the head of the Statue of Liberty, the points of her crown made up of components related to recycling and activism; from left to right: a fountain pen inscribed with the word “Write,” a curving green arrow inscribed with the word “REUSE,” a red brick chimney divided in half emitting smoke inscribed with the words “SAVE THE AIR,”
the Empire State Building with a bouquet emerging from the top, an arm raising a sign inscribed with the word “PROTEST,” a brown glass bottle with the word “RECYCLE” inscribed on the label, a metal faucet tap with dripping water inscribed with the word “CONSERVE.” A speech bubble to the left of the Statue of Liberty’s mouth has the printed words: ACT / NOW!; printed text below. Verso: Statue of Liberty holding a broomstick and tablet inscribed “reduce/reuse/recycle.””

As co-founder of Push Pin Studios with fellow graphic designers Milton Glaser, Edward Sorel, and Reynold Ruffins, Seymour Chwast worked on various projects, including poster designs, book illustrations, and magazine covers. His illustrations are characterized by his playful and expressive style. He is known for his Push Pin Style—the diverse union of illustration and design derived, according to Chwast, not from premeditation but from the requisites of the assignments themselves.

In 1985, he was awarded the AIGA Medal, given to individuals for their outstanding contribution to the field of design. His posters are in public collections such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Library of Congress in Washington D.C., and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England.