Art for Art House: The Posters of Peter Strausfeld

Art for Art House: The Posters of Peter Strausfeld celebrates the distinctive work of German-born artist Peter Strausfeld, whose bold linocut posters helped define the visual identity of London’s legendary Academy Cinema.

From 1931 to 1986, the Academy Cinema was one of London’s leading art houses, introducing audiences to groundbreaking international filmmakers including Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, François Truffaut, Ingmar Bergman, Andrzej Wajda, and Satyajit Ray. Beginning in 1945, Strausfeld created more than 300 posters for the theater, developing a visual language that was unlike the colorful, montage-style movie advertising of the period. Rather than simply depicting stars or scenes from a film, his posters captured the spirit and personality of each work through striking imagery and inventive design.

The earliest posters were printed on bookbinders’ linen due to wartime paper shortages and were displayed throughout London. Later, editions appeared across the London Underground, bringing the Academy Cinema’s adventurous programming to an even wider audience.

Today, Strausfeld’s posters stand as remarkable examples of the intersection of film, graphic design, and art house culture. Art for Art House offers visitors an opportunity to experience these works up close and explore the important role they played in shaping the identity of one of London’s most influential cinemas.

This exhibit is presented in collaboration with Poster House in New York City.