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Robert Rauschenberg 5 of the Most Memorable Artist-Designed Olympics Posters
24 July 2024
By Jo Lawson-Tancred
On the eve of Paris 2024’s hotly-anticipated opening ceremony on July 26, Artnet News takes a look back at some of the most memorable artist-designed Olympics posters from history.
Robert Rauschenberg, Los Angeles 1984
A veritable “who’s who” of midcentury artists submitted designs for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, including David Hockney, Lynda Benglis, Roy Lichenstein, and John Baldessari. Of the 16 contenders, Robert Rauschenberg came out on top when his design was selected as the games’ official poster. Peering closely at his photomontage, which is arranged as a sleek “star in motion,” the viewer can find a few examples of sporting activity mixed up with seemingly random images that speak to the era, like stacks of calculators, a man in a fetching red neckerchief, and a rocket. Conceptual!
