John van Hamersveld - Coolhous Studio: 50 Years of Art & Design Circa 1961 to 2011

An iconic image has a tremendous ability to influence society, acting as both a symbol for a moment in time and as a harbinger for change. Instantly recognizable, it can become invested with our hopes and dreams, both on a personal and a cultural level. Creating such work is not mere happenstandce, but is thanks to the deliberate choices and groundbreaking talents of a small handful of visionary artists and designers. John Van Hamersveld is one such creator, having produced such timeless images as the Endless Summer movie poster and the Jimi Hendrix Pinnacle poster. In a career spanning 50 years, Van Hamersveld has greaced such magazines as Rolling Stone, Esquire and Billboard with his illustrations and designed album covers for bands such as The Beatles, The Rollingstones, Grateful Dead, The Beach Boys, Jefferson Airplane, Kiss and Blondie, all the while experimenting with the new media and techniques. Few individuals have had such a lasting, ongoing impact on graphic design, popular art and culture.