Very cute little spot, and a fun way to while away the time when you're in the area. Entry is like $15 for adults, so a skosh less than you'd pay at a bigger museum, but just a bit more than I'd personally pay for the size of this place. If you have like a senior or kid's discount, or a student (?) discount, it would be worth it though. Museum is 2 floors, and fully jam packed with stuff to look at. Every room you go into has either posters from various eras, and/or explanations of the context for those posters, so you're not just appreciating the art in a vacuum. What I liked is that even on a Saturday afternoon, the place was relatively quiet and empty, so we were able to wander around and look at all the cool stuff mostly undisturbed. Bathrooms are spotlessly clean. Cafe is cute and has lots of little chairs to sit on and take a load off before you go exploring further. As of right now, they have a retrospective on black cinema, from the silent films to the black and white films to the technicolor films. There are posters for minstrel shows, posters for "All colored" (AKA, all black and brown people in the cast, so that unwitting racists don't wander in there and clutch their pearls over seeing brown and black folks not playing the parts of servants) casts, and even a couple of displays of paraphernalia from the era, such as blackface pancake makeup/greasepaint used on stage and film. The entrance to the space has these posters from the Czechoslovakia tourism board to come visit their country at the dawning of their founding. These were gorgeous posters, some of which mentioned the 60 2/3 % discount off the return journey ticket. I have no clue what the significance of that amount is. They were facing the gift shop, so while that person or persons you came with go look at tchotchkes , bric-a-brac, and curios long past when they should realize that they can buy most of the stuff online and not have to lug it around the city, you have some more stuff to look at. Mind you, the prints, postcards, and other reproductions of the posters are not something you can easily buy online. That's worth the trip to the gift shop if you like that sort of thing as decoration. The prints are on good quality paper, and the colors are crisp and well laid down. They're absolutely beautiful. At $1.50 per post card, you're paying a bit of money, but these are really beautiful and worthy of display. In the basement level, there's a large exhibition of war propaganda posters encouraging folks to donate books to the boys overseas (or "over there" as they called it repeatedly). Several soldiers would read in their spare time when they had long bouts of hurry up and wait. This was especially true of the navy people. They'd have long stretches of quiet where they'd read to pass the time. Again, the breadth and variety of the posters (some even from German sources, who were also asking the same) was impressive. Then there was the special exhibit of the AIDS epidemic posters from the early 1990s. If you'd not lived through that era, where the fear was all over the place, and the news had several stories of folks dying of AIDS left and right, having that curated collection of posters and adverts was an important reminder of where we were just 30 years ago. In the 1990s, you'd see news stories of random people dying of AIDS. One girl caught it from her dentist, and was all over the news (Kimberly Bengalis). Others caught it from parents. It ran rampant all over the world, and struck down people from all walks of life, regardless of race or sexuality. Watching the posters that were plastered up on the NYC walls during the epidemic, calling to question the inaction of people in power, asking for folks to contribute money, and several pleas to practice safer sex was a chilling reminder of what HIV/AIDS was for many many years. This was a well curated collection, and I'm glad I got a chance to see it. I'd say that the time I spent in the museum was well worth it. read more

As my friend said, "I've walked past here a dozen times and never noticed the museum." The facility is dedicated to impacting culture with posters as a method of visual communication. They opened in 2019, hosting a range of poignant exhibits, the current being no exception: ** Posters from Black American Stage & Screen ** New York's Fight Against Aids Posters represent signs of the time, sometimes with language that makes you cringe. The artwork is usually beautiful and always eye-catching, necessary to relay the reason the poster was commissioned. In addition to featured exhibits you'll see nostalgic posters that make you say "I remember that!" For me, it was rock-&-roll/concert art from the 60s and 70s. Located on 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, there are a number of subway and bus stops a short walk away. Free admission on Fridays. read more

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I've been to Poster House multiple times. Every time it's a wonderful experience. As I've said previously, they have had exhibits on the Black Panthers, Art Deco, advertising, travel, climate change, subway/magazine/collage art. This time I went to a very poignant and timely exhibition of fascism and Mussolini in Italy. Captivated, I read every display word for word. How can we not see the same thing unfolding in our own country? Next time I'm in town, they have an exhibit called, "Act Black: Posters from Black American Stage & Screen" as well as one called, "Love & Fury: New York's Fight Against AIDS." I can't wait to see both of them. And as always always always, Fridays are free and they are open until 9 PM. Staff continue to be engaged and helpful. Please support Poster House as it works to educate us on history and how to avoid repeating it. read more

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Lovely community museum located on Chelsea/Flatiron! Visited here for free (free 3rd Sundays) on a Sunday afternoon, and we were welcomed by a mini gift shop and cafe upon entering. They gave us each a sticker, which featured the design of one of the posters on displays, as an admission ticket. The uncrowded museum allowed us a peaceful visit, and we had plenty of space to wander the main and basement galleries. The exhibit featured a variety of posters and graphic design styles. read more

Poster House - Art Museums Near Me - New York, New York

Poster House 119 W. 23rd. St. New York, NY 10011 This museum that has an array of multiple size posters. During my visit, I explored four seasonal exhibitions in this two-story museum. *From the Bronx to the Battery: The Subway Sun These specific posters were designed between 1937 and 1939. They meant to serve as an advertisement supporting underground transportation with the IRT. *Fallout: Atoms for War & Peace In this exhibition, there are several posters about the positive and negative effects of nuclear weaponry. The two primary bombs referenced are the hydrogen bomb and atomic bomb. The idea of nuclear weapons was both supposed and protested. *Puerto Rico in Print: The Posters of Lorenzo Homar Known as the father of the Puerto Rican poster, Lorenzo Homar drew illustrations about the history of this United States territory during the leadership of Governor Luis Munoz Marin. *Copy/Paste/Print/Repeat: Mike King & The Art of the Gig Poster This hallway exhibition features musical themed posters. Aside from all those posters, you can actually create your own in The Photo Booth. Simply follow the instructions, smile into the camera and receive a free digital copy in the form of text or email. Stop by Poster House and get a taste of official art history. #posterhousenyc #posterhouse #exhibitions #falloutatomsforwarandpeace #thesubwaysun #lorenzohomar #photobooth #giftshop #chelsea #w23rdstreet read more

FREE ADMISSION on fridays. You'll spend about a solid 60 to 90 mins here depending on how quickly you read. This is a small, but emersive museum. 2 floors, very narrow, but id say about 6 exhibits as of august 2025. End your visit at the cafe, free photo booth and or the gift shop. I really appreciated the theme, various exhibits and types of print and artwork shown here. Everything from silk screening album covers, to artists from puerto rico to political propaganda. Looking forward to coming back and engaging with more pieces. read more

Great space with lots of interesting exhibits. Particularly interesting for those into graphics and design but most visitors should be able to appreciate the exhibits. There is a cafe with some tables, chairs and soft-seating near the front. There is also a pretty cool store towards the front which has some interesting items...including graphics-related books, various stationery and prints of some of the art exhibited throughout house. They are open Thursday through Sunday and tickets are $12 for adults and free for children under 18. There are discounts for seniors, students, and veterans ($8 admission). Admission is FREE for all on Fridays (currently). You can read everything in about an hour or two max. read more

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Poster House opened in 2019 & is the 1st Poster Museum in the U.S. Located on W. 23rd Street in Manhattan, Poster House is accessible via public transportation that includes the F,M, C, E, W, R Trains to 23rd Street. It is easy to order admission tickets via their website. There are 2 Floors w/ multiple exhibits that run at the same time. Previous memorable poster exhibits included 1.) "Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters", 2.)"The Anatomy of a Movie Poster: The Work of Dawn Baillie", 3.) "We Tried To Warn You! Environmental Crisis Posters 1970-2020", 4.) "Made in Japan: 20th Century Poster Art", & one of my favorites 5.) "Black Power to Black People: Branding the Black Panther Party". Current exhibits that have been viewed include "Just Frame It. How Nike Turned Sport Stars Into Superheroes" - ends Feb. 2025 & "Fantastical Streets: The Theatrical Posters of Boris Bucan" - until Feb. 2025 Next First Friday (free admission) - 12/6/24. During this upcoming Free Friday, thete will be events including Tote Bag Screen Printing (fee for this event) /Drop In Lino Block Printing (fee for this event), & Hand Lettering Workshop (fee for this event). There have also been various live performances - Choy Lay Fut Lion Dance was a favorite & there was a previous Sound Bath Event. Interplanetary Funk Drag Show will perform on 12/6/24. Movie Screenings are on the lower level. Special Screening on 12/6/24 will be "Space Jam 2: A New Legacy". Poster House had both a quaint gift shop & cafe area that sells snacks & beverages. Website - posterhouse.org Instagram - @posterhousenyc Open Thurs. - Sun. - 10am - 6pm. Extended Hours during "First Friday" - 1st Friday of each month is free admission & hours of operation are 10am- 9pm. read more

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Really cool Poster Museum that showcases different posters, advertisements, and propaganda from all over the world and throughout history. It is the only museum in the world just dedicated to posters. They had posters about different products, chocolates, WW2, Indian airline etc. You can spend about 40 minutes to an hour looking through everything in the museum. It is also pretty well priced, especially if you go on free Fridays. It also wasn't too crowded when I went. read more

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Had an amazing time celebrating my son's birthday at the Poster House. We hired a room downstairs and coordinated with the most pleasant team ever - Colin & Shaquille. Everything went smoothly - we bought our own entertainment, decorations, food and drinks (and also a piñata). Everyone had a great time, parents included. Would definitely recommend to check out this place for small events / birthday parties. The writing wall also kept the kids entertained for ages! read more

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Nice little space. Very well curated. I have no other shows to compare it to, but it seemed very much as if the space was designed AROUND the posters, and not the other way around. Gift shop is pretty awesome as well. read more

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Went on one of the First Fridays - free admission, with scheduled events. Because we didn't plan to stay long, couldn't join most of the activities (some for a fee, others free) - in the future, better to time the visit based on the events. Got a free drink from the cafe that day. The staff at the main desk were very informative and patient. As far as the museum, we saw posters for NY/NYC which I found interesting. There was an exhibit on movie posters; about the environment etc. May not be for everyone though. read more

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Spontaneously walked in on a Friday, not knowing that they do FREE FRIDAYS! They also do First Fridays with fun events the first Friday of each month! For free, I can't complain, however I personally wouldn't pay full price for this museum. There's only one main floor that has a bunch of different NY posters centered around history, and then a smaller room in their bottom level of movie posters. They also have a cafe next to their check in desk with ample seating and clean restrooms. In the front, they have a bookstore with digital prints of posters and NYC memorabilia. This museum isn't bad for a look-see, but it's not totally my cup of tea. It was still cool to check it out though, especially if you're looking to kill time in the area! read more

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I visited Poster House for the first time a couple of weeks ago for West Side Fest. Poster house is unique because it's the first museum in the US devoted entirely to posters. These aren't the posters you see in your friend's dorm room. The posters span different eras and countries and often have some kind of educational message or public impact. When we arrived, the people at the front desk gave us cute stickers as our admission ticket. There were two exhibits on view. One was an Art Deco exhibition and the other was about climate awareness. The museum overall is pretty small with two floors and was particularly cramped because of the free admission for West Side Fest. I liked the posters on view but the climate one was definitely more engaging. I wish there was a wider collection. read more

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One of my favorite museums I've seen in the city thus far. We went when it was free on Fridays. Such a cool art form to see celebrated. I love the many European examples. The space is colorful, well, painted, and easy to navigate. I'm so glad that this art form is celebrated because it's one of my favorites. The staff was kind. The merch shop is one of the best I've seen. With all of these cool posters, they take the forms of buttons and small prints for only seven dollars. read more

Poster House - Art Museums Near Me - New York, New York

An absolute hidden gem. Even though it's a small museum every nook and cranny is utilized for exhibition space. The curation is excellent and covers diverse perspectives and interesting and relevant topics. Every Friday is free and every first Friday has extras such as performances, music, art making etc. The subject matter also lends itself to a really nice gift shop. read more

This is one of my favorite low commitment museums in NYC. There are some museums where one day isn't enough (ie: The Met) and some where it feels like you are not getting anything from the experience. I think Poster House is the right mix of getting something worthwhile out of a short period of time. One would think there isn't that much to cover with posters. But everytime I visit , I become intrigued on so much ground they can cover. Currently, they have main exhibits on New York as a travel destination through the lens of posters and the evolution of the work of movie posters through one designer (Dawn Baillie). Even though touring the museum is 1.5 - 2 hours max, I felt that I learned so much from the experience and this museum does a great job of adding context. They had an exhibit on Blaxploitation films previously which was great because it examined the time period, the art style, the tropes and so much more. This museum charges $12 for adults, free for children under 18 (varied prices depending on other characteristics) and has all day free Fridays. Because the exhibits don't change as much, I think 12 bucks is worth it for a one time experience for not only just the main exhibits (plus the mini ones and the kids area) plus the free wifi and the cafe. One of my favorite chais was made here. So overall I think it is a cool topic and filled with educational content in a cool read more

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Loved this place! It's a museum that focuses specifically on the art of posters, but even if you're not a graphic design expert, you can still enjoy it like any other art museum. The exhibits were all wonderfully curated and introduced me to a lot of cool artists I'd never heard of. Will definitely return the next time I vacation in NY. read more

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Small but quality museum. I came today for the free events held and I did not leave disappointed. Seeing all the posters is very vibrant and eye catching! read more

Poster House - Art Museums Near Me - New York, New York

The Poster House in Chelsea is the first in the US to be dedicated entirely to posters and they have free walk-in admission every Friday!! It's a smaller museum with two floors of exhibitions. When I went, the two main ones focused on art deco and climate change awareness. The art deco gallery had a moving figure drawing class going on, which meant some of the posters were a bit blocked, but it was certainly fun to watch the dancers and sketchers. I really liked learning about the impact of posters on society and culture throughout history! When: Free admission every Friday, when it's open until 9pm! read more

Terrific Museum of Poster Art This is a terrifically curated museum of poster art. During our visit the feature exhibit was on nuclear power, with incredible promotional posters from General Dynamics, as well as international posters, and anti-nuclear posters. Downstairs there were two smaller exhibits, including one of fascinating Seattle concert posters. They have a small but very nice cafe, and the gift shop had an excellent selection of postcard and small-poster reproductions of posters from both the nuclear power exhibit and more. They even had a flat cardboard carrier to help you get the posters home without damage. read more

Susie and Sodhiana are the pleasant ladies at the reception desk of the Postwr House. After the gym I walked there to see the lower ground floor which has movie posters. As the museum is free all day on Fridays I find it convenient and pleasant to pop in here. I took the elevator down and saw the posters and read descriptions what is lovely here is that all the employees are cheerful and pleasant to talk to. The badge one has to wear is also pretty. read more

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I visited Poster House for the first time about a week ago when I was in New York for Labor Day weekend. What is it? The first museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to posters. It opened in 2009 and its permanent collection contains thousands of posters. Sound weird and niche? It is. Which is why I enjoyed it so much. I'd never really spent much time thinking about posters as either art or artifacts. And Poster House really places posts in those two contexts. The building is gorgeous, and the staff were really friendly. There's also a coffeeshop in the museum, so it's a great place for mid-afternoon pick-me-up if touristing around the city has you a bit tuckered out. Because they have such a large collection of posters, their exhibitions change up quite often, which keeps it exciting to visit. When I visited, they had several different exhibits; my favorites were "Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters" and "The Anatomy of a Movie Poster: The Work of Dawn Baillie." It's not a huge museum, but it offers something really different from NYC's other great museums. Worth a visit if you're curious about it or if there's an exhibit you're interested in! read more

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I hadn't heard of this relatively new (opened in 2019) museum dedicated to posters prior to discovering it through the Culture Pass database while looking for things to do (Culture Pass allows you to make reservations at many museums for free as a member of the New York or Brooklyn Public Libraries). My friend and I met up and spent around two hours perusing the space, admiring the exhibitions (the two main ones on right now are about art deco and climate change awareness, respectively), and reading all the informational placards. There's a book/gift shop and cafe (serving coffee, alcohol, and snacks) on the main floor. There are additional restrooms and a kids space in addition to more gallery space and an educational workshop downstairs. The space is modern and welcoming. I'll keep an eye out for future Poster House shows and events. read more

Very small museum located in Chelsea that specializes in posters. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it was not crowded at all, and I was able to take my time with looking at everything. I would say that one can see the entire museum within an hour or so, and for the admission price that's not too bad. There is a main gallery room on the first floor, and a smaller gallery room in the lower level and also some stuff along the hallways as well. A small cafe and gift area is also located on the first floor. I would recommend taking the time to read the information plaques under each poster, it gives background as well as some historical context. read more

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It's a quick visit through some interesting athletic moments. If you're a sports fan you might appreciate the exhibits and Hip Hop afficianados will enjoy the memorabilia. Otherwise, it's not spectacular but worthwhile! read more

Came here with my cousin and wow, it exceeded my expectations. Entrance fee is $12 but if you have a ny library card it's free. The posters were awesome and want to come back to visit more exhibits. read more

Poster House - Part of museum - Art Museums Near Me - New York, New York

One of the best museums in the city. Has great pieces while having enough room to go at your own pace. Great store and free admission on Fridays and every third Sunday. Great staff too! read more

This is a "blink and you'll miss it" kind of place. I've lived in NY all my life, been on that street so many times, worked in the area. Never noticed this place. Finally a Culture Pass from the library gave me reason to check it out. I've always loved posters and that is what this museum is about. I think it's the only museum of its kind in NY. I doubt too there are many "poster museums" in the world if any. It is a small museum, plan to spend no more than 90 minutes tops here, but the space makes use of every bit of space. Hard to believe they fit three exhibits, a cafe, a shop, an activity photo booth space and restrooms all on one floor. There is also a downstairs gallery area that had three exhibits. The exhibits were on movies, travel and the environment. I liked them all and definitely learned some things. I didn't eat at the cafe but they had interesting offerings and the coffee was decent. Loved the shop. So many interesting items that were NY-centric. They have events too! Not too crowded like other museums, although some of the exhibit space is a little narrow, so you may have to beware not to bump into another museumgoer or stand too close to them. Conveniently located not too far from the 1 and F trains. I highly recommend checking it out. I know I'll be back in September. read more

I have to say, after visiting poster house, and the museum of art and design I really prefer Poster House! I thought the exhibits were pretty well done, and there is an interesting telephone within the museum that if you pick it up, it calls a different telephone booth in the city and someone can possibly pick it up. You can have a total conversation with a stranger! Downstairs they have a women in old Hollywood section, which I found particularly fascinating, because I studied film in school, a children's section where kids can color on the wall, and the Air India exhibition. I knew nothing about Air India's mascot, but I learned a lot and I really enjoyed seeing all the different poster designs and why they worked and mattered. read more

Poster House - Art Museums Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is like a little hidden gem in Manhattan. I went during the pandemic and they had all the proper protocols in place which was good. I reserved my spot online and was able to walk right in no issues. The museum is based around posters which I find so cool. The exhibit I happened to see was the one on Chinese Imperialism. It was really cool to see how Chinese cigarettes were advertised back in the olden days. I loved the organization and the content. It really was a great little exhibit. Downstairs there was an exhibit on Swiss posters which I found really off putting and lackluster. This place only has 2 floors but it's really good if you just want a nice intimate experience of viewing historical posters. There wasn't much but overall it was a good experience. Staff was very efficient too. read more

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Poster House is the first museum in the US dedicated to posters, and they just opened in 2019, so you must go! Visited with a culture pass and thought it was a gem. I'd allot an hour. It's a big place but it has two rooms of exhibits to check out that you could run through. It was awesome to see hand-painted posters from major movies. Loved the exhibit on large movie posters from Ghana on the first floor (not your typical poster exhibit). Downstairs, there was a women's movement poster exhibit along with a few old-school Japanese posters. It's worth the visit to see a different twist on commercial and political art. They've also got an old-school TV playing some classics, like Poltgeist and Children of the Corn. Afterwards, you get to take free photos with their poster photo booth and email or text them to yourself! You could also print them out for $5. There's a cafe and gift shop to explore as well. Some items that stood out were books of pattern and design. Shout-out to Mike and John, the security guards who welcome you, give you a rundown of the place, and help with the photo booth. They told us about their free community parties that happen every time a new exhibit opens, about every three months. read more

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I knew that I would become a fan of the poster house after just one visit. Our first visit was back in September for their exhibit that honored the movie posters of the Blaxploitation era. We returned this past weekend for their first ever Block Party and an amazing fun-filled day for the entire family. Check out their website for upcoming events and the free admission day that is offered. read more

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Brand new, clean and sleek museum and education center on 24th Street east of 7th Avenue. I was there with a small group of students and both Lisa and Sam provided us with a wonderful educational tour and activity. I love these posters and was curious about the one that I had at home which was very similar. Turns out, it is a Mucha and I had no idea who the artist was all along until today. In a few weeks the exhibition changes to a new poster artist. I would hurry to get there while this small but interesting Mucha exhibit is still there. read more

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A beautiful new art museum that has Alphonse Mucha some of his original works here that I haven't seen since couple years ago in Prague. It's hard to believe this used to be the old Tekserv location. It is totally transformed. They also have a cafe inside which you can enjoy without museum admission as well. Pretty good selection and they have oat milk! Also they have a free photo booth upfront which is so much fun to play with! My only complaint would be the lack of hooks to hang things in the bathroom haha. I love how it's a nice and clean modern place and location is superb! Highly recommend to all to visit when you can! read more

Poster House - Inside - Art Museums Near Me - New York, New York

A small but electric museum of historic posters covering both Soviet movies and American writing promotions. There are two levels, a nice gift shop and coffee shop. It is relatively inexpensive to visit and you can be in and out within one hour. read more

Wonderful museum in Chelsea. They have great poster exhibits and a very cool gift shop. It's worth a visit if you're in the area.

I went early this summer. Honestly not worth the $12 I spent. It's very small once you enter downstairs, really only a couple sections. The rest is the gift shop which I would say was more interesting than the exhibit. read more

What an unexpectedly wonderful experience. The exhibits, both the Japanese posters and Blank Panther were very engaging...beautifully presented. Neither are anything I had any previous interest in but it was very interesting. I'm an adult but I also enjoyed the kids interactive area. And then the posters of typefaces...love this exhibit too. What was the icing on the cake was the entire space. Love the vibe. Cool looking and modern, two floors, with a nice little snack bar and fun seating in two areas. Had a water and a snack while seated on a modern banquette, looking at art posters, in the air-conditioning. Did I mention they have clean bathrooms. If I lived in NYC I'd get a membership, pack up a good book or my laptop and use their seating areas for a little reprieve and change of scenery. I think the exhibits change out every 6 months. Great gift shop too. Really loved this place. We'll be back. read more

Poster House Museum only opened a few months ago and I wasn't sure what to expect from the content. Thinking about it now, posters are a unique form of art and communication in that they speak locally, personally, can be homemade and spontaneous, and still powerful. I was able to come here for free with my NYC Culture Pass. The museum is small, two floors with a cafe and gift shop. One exhibit covered 80's-90's handmade movie posters from Ghana. In 1957 Ghana became the first sub-Saharn African country to gain independence from the UK and despite a wealth of resources, was thrown into economic turmoil. From that, came in interest in showing Western movies, which were advertised by local artists making hand painted posters, sometimes on sacks of flour. The artists don't copy VHS tapes exactly, they take creative license and it's interesting to see the result. Western culture, with it's strong economy, was inspiring, and because the movies were often shown in religious spaces (they had the space for it), there was a fusing of pop-culture and religious ideology. I never would have known about this if not for the exhibit! There were posters targeting the Japanese population that stressed Western hygienic standards, and another area devoted to posters from Trump-era women's and immigrant rights marches. A medium I had never given much thought to suddenly seemed intimate and broad. There are some great interactive portions: downstairs there is a children's area with play pay phones (I got a kick out of being reminded of my age when I got excited they had "real" pay phones downstairs) and a white board coloring wall of a NYC street. At the very end you can stand in front of a green screen and the awesome security guards will help insert yourself right into a famous poster, that you then get sent to your phone or email. The museum is aiming to get it's liquor license soon and they're already planning a host of after hours events with DJ's - keep an eye on this! read more

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