Knowledge Quarter staff and friends are welcome to join our private breakfast view of Designed in Cuba: Cold War Graphics at the House of Illustration. Enjoy privileged out-of-hours access to the exhibition in the company of lovely, like-minded individuals living and working in the Knowledge Quarter.

Designed in Cuba: Cold War Graphics is an unprecedented exhibition of original Cuban propaganda posters and magazines. A prime example of design for political persuasion, the work of Fidel Castro’s Organisation of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America (OSPAAAL) was marked by uncompromising illustrations championing Cuba’s revolutionary message.

Throughout the Cold War artists including Alfredo Rostgaard, Helena Serrano and Emory Douglas produced provocative posters that were distributed in their millions alongside Tricontinental, a magazine that featured illustrated articles by Jean Paul Sartre, Che Guevara and Malcolm X.

About House of Illustration:

House of Illustration is a registered charity and the UK’s only public gallery dedicated solely to illustration and graphic art. Founded by Sir Quentin Blake it opened in July 2014 in King’s Cross, London.

Their exhibition programme explores historic and contemporary illustration and the work of both defining and emerging illustrators. House of Illustration is the only UK gallery commissioning illustration for public display and runs the UK’s only residency for illustrators and graphic artists.

Image credit: Detail from Fidel © Alfredo G. Rostgaard, OSPAAAAL

About KQ Private Views:

Staff and friends of the Knowledge Quarter and its 103 partner organisations get free, out-of-hours access to some of the best exhibitions in London.

Our series of exclusive Private Views has opened the doors (before they open to the public) of the British Museum, The Francis Crick Institute and the Wellcome Collection. More intimate venues such as the House of Illustration and the London Metropolitan Archives have proven equally as popular. These exhibition events, often accompanied by tours, provide an opportunity for the wealth of collection treasures in the Knowledge Quarter to be to be shared and celebrated.

Join us for morning coffee (and a croissant or two), and make new friends with staff working in the Knowledge Quarter as you ponder manuscripts, genomes, butterflies, portraits, illustrations, busts, nudes and much, much more.

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KQ Private View: Designed in Cuba: Cold War Graphics