The 18th biennial Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition hosted by the Department of Art at Colorado State University features works of top poster artists and designers worldwide. Now in its 34th year, the biennial event is the only exhibition of its kind in the United States.[/caption]

The main exhibition will open Sept. 13 and run through Oct. 31 in the Clara Hatton Gallery in the Visual Arts Building located on the main CSU campus. The exhibition will open with a public reception at 7 p.m. and poster sale from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 in the Hatton Gallery. Exhibition winners will be announced during the reception by the exhibition’s honor laureate. A limited number of exhibition posters and full-color catalogs will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. General gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Featuring works of 80 artists from 32 countries, including top international entrants and many new faces, the 18th Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition – or CIIPE –showcases examples of global visual communication to an American audience, and promotes international understanding and dialogue through the graphic arts. The unique exhibition provides CSU students and the community first hand-exposure to a diverse presentation of prevailing social, cultural, and commercial perspectives.

Each biennial year, the exhibition spotlights an artist with a lifetime record of excelling in the poster medium as Honor Laureate. This year’s honoree is Danish artist Gitte Kath whose prolific career encompasses two fields, graphic design and stage design. Since 1974 Kath has served as the stage designer and stage director at the Teatret Møllen in Haderslev, Denmark. Danish journalist, Erik Meistrup, has noted that “It is impossible to divide Gitte Kath’s artistic work with posters from her work at, with, and for the local theatre” and that the two are “totally integrated.”

The honor laureate lecture will take place at 5 p.m. Sept. 11 in the Griffin Concert Hall at the University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St., followed by an opening reception at the University Art Museum. Kath’s work will be highlighted at the museum from Sept. 11 to Dec. 20.

A valuable extension of the biennial exhibition is the International Poster Collection Gallery, which holds past and present CIIPE poster entries. The collection, created through the collaboration between CSU Libraries and the Department of Art, is part of Morgan Library’s Archives and Special Collections. The online display features a searchable database of posters from the 7th show (1991) to the present, and an artist database of biographical information.

“We are honored that CIIPE brings to the Colorado State campus posters from the finest established and emerging international graphic designers working throughout the world today,” said Gary Voss, chair of the Dept. of Art. “Our collection is the best assemblage of contemporary posters created over the past 36 years and reflects diverse perspectives on a wide range of issues.”

CIIPE boasts a rich history of satellite exhibitions; however, due to extensive campus renovations to the Lory Student Center, as well as the art building, space considerations have curtailed additional exhibitions for the 2013 installment of the show. Look for the popular multi-location supplements to return for 2015.

The Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition was founded in 1979 at Colorado State by Phil Risbeck, professor in the Department of Art at Colorado State University; Bob Coonts, CSU retired affiliate faculty; and John Sorbie, former art professor at CSU, now deceased.

The 18th exhibition was made possible in-part through a grant from the Lilla B. Morgan Memorial Fund, which was established to enhance the cultural development and atmosphere of Colorado State.

All events and exhibitions are free and open to the public.

18th Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition Schedule (chronological)

Honor Laureate Lecture: Gitte Kath
Sept. 11, 5 p.m.
Griffin Concert Hall, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St.

Honor Laureate Opening Reception
Sept. 11, 6-9 p.m.
University Art Museum, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St.

Honor Laureate Exhibition – Gitte Kath
Sept. 11-Dec. 20
University Art Museum, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St.

Honor Laureate Scenic Design Class Session – Gitte Kath
Sept. 12, noon-1 p.m.
Rm. 228, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St.

18th Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition
Sept. 13-Oct. 31
Clara Hatton Gallery, Visual Arts Building
Colorado State University Campus
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

18th Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition Opening Reception, Remarks and Ribbon Cutting
Friday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.
Clara Hatton Gallery, Visual Arts Building

18th Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition Opening Poster Sale
Friday, Sept. 13, 7-9 p.m.
Hatton Gallery, Colorado State University Campus