Hope: A Collection of Obama Posters and Prints is the first-ever complete collection of campaign posters for the man whose groundbreaking campaign for the presidency sent political and cultural shockwaves around the world.
"More than a novelty, this enjoyable chronicle of a unique moment in America's national history will remain a useful document for generations…."—Library Journal
View Sample Posters from the Book
Researched, compiled and written by Hal Elliott Wert, a professor at the Kansas City Art Institute, Hope offers a visually striking and comprehensive chronology of the posters created for Obama’s historic presidential bid. Selected from the largest Obama poster collection known to exist, the 185 full-color images visually emphasize Obama’s inspirational messages of change, hope and inclusion, solidifying a campaign unlike anything ever seen in U.S. history and elevating the man behind the message to the status of cultural icon. The unparalleled collection was scanned at the highest resolution largely from original, signed prints available for viewing at “Officially Unofficial -- Inspired Art for Obama,” a traveling exhibit that will soon be touring the country.
With very few exceptions, each of the visually stunning campaign posters in Hope, created by a diverse collection of artists, have been seen only by a limited number of viewers in the primary states, with others having rarely been seen outside the urban core or the art gallery world. Accompanying text provides the back story of each individual artist and poster, revealing the expressive intent behind these dynamic compositions. As an added visual bonus, the reverse side of the front jacket reveals a fold-out, full-color reproduction of David Choe’s awe-inspiring “Hope” print.
The Author
Author Hal Wert has been at Kansas City Art Institute since 1973 and Hope is his second full length book. He has collected, studied, and taught about campaign posters and paraphernalia for decades, including a class called ‘Prints of Persuasion’ as a professor at the KCAI. Through his years of study, Wert has come to know many of the important poster artists featured in Hope personally. Wert has also authored a number of publications, book reviews, and papers on a range of subjects, including presidential politics, war relief posters, and military history. His traveling exhibition of Obama posters was done in partnership with the Mid-America Arts Alliance. Hope is his first book.
The Book
Hope: A Collection of Obama Posters and Prints
By Hal Elliott Wert
Hardcover, 9” x 11 7/8”
188 pages, 170 color images
ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-3787-5
$35.00 US · £24.99 UK · $43.99 CAN
Hope: A Collection of Obama Posters and Prints is available at bookstores and online retailers everywhere or at www.zenithpress.com.