A rare look at travel posters from the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938), revealing how design, tourism, and soft power shaped a modern national identity in the wake of empire.
HoursThursday: 10 AM to 6 PMFriday: 10 AM to 9 PMSaturday: 10 AM to 6 PMSunday: 10 AM to 6 PM
EventsThursday, June 11, 5 PM to 6 PM | guided tourThursday, August 20, 5 PM to 6 PM | guided tourAdmission
The Czech Center New York and Poster House present an exhibition exploring the visual culture of a young nation finding its place in the modern world.
On October 28, 1918, Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, forming a new state from Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Slovakia, and Carpathian Ruthenia. The two decades that followed—known as the First Republic—marked a golden age of democratic optimism, cultural innovation, and economic ambition.
This exhibition presents seldom-seen travel posters from 1918 to 1938, created by visionary artists, designers, and commercial studios who understood that tourism was more than leisure—it was diplomacy. In a region long defined by imperial borders, travel posters became instruments of soft power, enticing domestic and international audiences alike to see the First Czechoslovak Republic as a land of opportunity, beauty, and progress. Through bold typography, striking modernist compositions, and idealized landscapes, these works projected a confident, forward-looking identity.
Curated by Nicholas D. Lowry, President of Swann Auction Galleries and longtime appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, the exhibition situates these posters within broader conversations about nation-building, graphic innovation, and cultural diplomacy. Lowry recently appeared in the documentary Identity: A Czech Graphic Design Love Story (2024), examining the history of Czech graphic design.
Exhibition design by Mihoshi Fukushima Clark.
