JASPER JOHNS Arakawa, 1973

This rare original exhibition poster was created for the 1973 Arakawa show at Dayton’s Gallery 12 in Minneapolis and features distinctive stencil typography attributed to Jasper Johns. The poster is a compelling intersection of two major Postwar artists: Arakawa’s conceptual imagery forms the central visual field, while Johns’ iconic stenciled lettering—one of the most recognizable elements of his artistic vocabulary—frames the composition with deliberate, ghostlike precision.

The poster’s surface reveals the subtle irregularities, texture, and offset layering characteristic of early-1970s exhibition printing, underscoring its authenticity and period originality. Unlike later reproductions, this example carries the unmistakable signs of hand-prepared typography and layout, giving it enhanced value as an object directly tied to the artists’ collaborative visual language.

A historically significant piece of American conceptual art ephemera, it stands at the crossroads of Johns’ exploration of coded text and Arakawa’s philosophical inquiry into perception, systems, and language. Collectible, visually arresting, and museum-worthy, this poster is an exceptional artifact from a pivotal moment in contemporary art.