Flat Out Rebellion: The Rule-Breaking Career of Designer-Illustrator Seymour Chwast

In the late 1940s and 1950s, mainstream illustration was dominated by Norman Rockwell’s simulated small-town charm and the Westport School’s slick but false assurances. However, designer-illustrator Seymour Chwast was not content with occupying these neutral cultural and creative grooves.

From his politically charged anti-war posters to his unconventional picture books, Chwast rewrote visual culture through acts of protest. Flat Out Rebellion features several examples of Chwast’s outspoken posters, unconventional children’s books, and unique original drawings from the Dowd Illustration Research Archive that showcase Chwast’s graphic, friendly, and unforgettable acts of creative rebellion.

Master of Fine Arts in Illustration and Visual Culture candidate Danielle Ridolfi organized this exhibition for the WashU Libraries.

Header Image Credit: Seymour Chwast, End Bad Breath, 1967. Dowd Illustration Research Archive.