Above is an example of a film poster created by Talivaldis Stubis from his large collection. Read his story by his son, Mark Stubis
One hundred years ago, one of the most creative and prolific graphic designers of the 20th Century was born and went on to help produce many of the most iconic images for film, Broadway, books, and record jackets – images recognized by millions in countries around the world. A new, yearlong centennial celebration now aims to spotlight one of the most intensively innovative and creatively inexhaustible artists of the last 100 years.
Talivaldis Stubis was born in Riga, Latvia in 1926. Largely self-taught, he developed his artistic skills by sketching family, friends, and street scenes outside his home and later in the DP camps where he, his mother, brother, and sister lived following World War II.
Immigrating to the United States, he got his first job in New York painting ties in a sweatshop while applying for positions at art agencies around the city. He was soon hired and earned senior creative positions at a series of important design studios specializing first in Broadway shows, and later, movie posters.
Among the artist’s most memorable images was the illustration for the famed Broadway musical and movie, Funny Girl, which featured the image of an upside-down girl on roller skates whose body spells out the title, but he worked on literally hundreds of other now-legendary posters for stage and screen. His other Broadway works included Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, Stephen Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle, and Gypsy, Tennessee Williams’ Night of the Iguana, Neil Simon’s Promises, Promises, The Fun Couple, featuring Jane Fonda and Dyan Cannon, and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song.
As senior art director for several major movie advertising agencies, Talivaldis worked on and helped develop many of the best-known movie poster campaigns of the 20th century, including Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Sting, The Exorcist, Day for Night, Cool Hand Luke, Night of the Iguana, Lady Sings the Blues, Airplane!, Elephant Man, Reds, Ordinary People, An Officer and a Gentleman
man, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
On most nights and weekends, he worked at his “other” job as a book illustrator. Over the course
of his long career, he illustrated 24 books, creating a cover for the paperback version of Erich Maria
Remarque’s All Quiet On the Western Front, and working with such illustrious authors as Otto Friedrich on Sir Alva and the Wicked Wizard, poet and editor Lillian Moore on Sam’s Place, and husband-and-wife team Rose Wyler and Gerald Ames, who turned out dozens of books in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s such as Prove It! to excite children’s interest in science. In 1954, Talivaldis married ballet dancer Patricia Ann Thomas and together they collaborated on Sandwichery, a cookbook for young children.
Talivaldis’ books won numerous awards and in 1962, A Pocketful of Seasons was named one of the New York Times’ 100 Best Books
of the Year. Tal lived in New York and Los Angeles and died in 2009 at the age of 83. “My father was one of the most talented and creative artists of the 20th Century,” said his son Mark Stubis, who launched the effort with the help of Talivaldis’ granddaughter, the artist, gallery director, and museum specialist Halley Stubis. “His work has been recognized and loved by millions around the world, but his name is less familiar to many. We hope that this project will not only bring back fond memories of some of the most beloved images in theater, film, books, and records, but help better acquaint them with the remarkable man who had a powerful impact on popular culture over the past 100 years.”
• How to Follow the Centennial
The centennial celebration features information and stories about the artist, a forthcoming website and online museum, 100 social posts with familiar and never-before-seen art samples to mark the 100 years since his birth, and a traveling exhibit/
presentation of his works and life.
• To participate, follow us via: Facebook: Talivaldis Stubis Centennial Celebration; Instagram: #TalivaldisStubis; Website and Online Museum: www.TalivaldisStubis.com (coming soon); or to arrange a live or virtual exhibit/presentation, write to BooksArtsAndMusic@gmail.com.