"Skull and Roses" Grateful Dead, Oxford Circle, September 16-17, Avalon Ballroom, 1966

The 1960s were a time of counterculture in reaction to the conservatism of the 1950s. This was reflected in both music and art, pronounced within graphic design via a revival of Art Nouveau. We can see this within the flowing lettering of the poster, and the flat decorative patterns. The poster features bold vibrant colors, a deep crimson red which is heavily contrasted via the deep blue of the background. This was a deliberate design choice, in order to distance the artist from more traditional poster styles at the time. 

The art at the center of the poster is from a  19th-century engraving from “The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam” . This is a poem which deals with the inevitability of death, and promotes pleasure as the main goal of life. These themes  were mirrored within hippie culture at the time which had a heavy emphasis on experimentation, liberation, freedom, and pleasure seeking. Curated to draw homage to a psychedelic trip, the artwork featured in the poster would be adapted by the Grateful Dead as their logo and is one of their most recognizable icons. It was featured in their 1971 live self titled album. 

Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse, the artists of the poster would go on to create many influential posters within the era in this art style. Many of which featured common motifs such as bold psychedelic colors, dynamic and playful lettering, and reuse of historic art.


Citations:
“‘Skull and Roses,’ Grateful Dead, Oxford Circle, September 16-17, Avalon Ballroom.” Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2019. https://collections.artsmia.org/art/99662/skull-and-roses-alton-kelley.

Harmsen, Olga, and Olga Harmsen. “Art Nouveau Revival of the 1960s.” About Art Nouveau, October 14, 2023. https://aboutartnouveau.wordpress.com/2022/02/12/art-nouveau-revival-of-the-1960s/.

Grimes, William. “Alton Kelley, 67, Artist of the 1960s Rock Counterculture, Dies.” The New York Times, June 4, 2008. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/arts/design/04kelley.html.

“Grateful Dead, Oxford Circle; Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, September 16-17, 1966.” San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, December 7, 2024. https://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/95.479/.