Roy Kuhlman's Narrative Abstraction Celebrated in New Monograph
A new book titled 'Roy Kuhlman: Reluctant Modernist' (Fantagraphics) by Steven Brower, with an introduction by Steven Heller, compiles over 200 covers, jackets, advertisements, and typography by the late designer. Kuhlman was the principal art director and designer for Grove Press, defining its radical literary list with a Midcentury Modern style Heller calls 'narrative abstraction.' His work avoided literal representation, using kinetic shapes, flat colors, and hand-scrawled typography. The book is compiled with the assistance of Kuhlman's daughter, Arden Kuhlman Roidan, who administers his archive.
Key facts
- Roy Kuhlman was an original book jacket and cover designer.
- He designed almost exclusively for Grove Press.
- His style is Midcentury Modern, characterized as 'narrative abstraction.'
- Kuhlman's work used kinetic, morphing shapes in flat colors with painterly and collage randomness.
- He often used hand-scrawled titles and subsidiary texts.
- The new book 'Roy Kuhlman: Reluctant Modernist' is published by Fantagraphics.
- The book is by Steven Brower with an introduction by Steven Heller.
- It includes over 200 covers, jackets, advertisements, and typography.
- Kuhlman's daughter Arden Kuhlman Roidan administers his archive and assisted with the book.
- Kuhlman later worked for clients like Mobil, Hertz, and IBM.
Entities
Artists
- Roy Kuhlman
- Steven Brower
- Steven Heller
- Arden Kuhlman Roidan
- Barney Rossett
Institutions
- Grove Press
- Fantagraphics
- The New York Times
- Mobil
- Hertz
- IBM
- PRINT Magazine