Anthony Burrill raids iconic LA poster printer's archive for new KK Outlet show

Date
4 October 2012

To us Brits, Los Angeles retains a mystique learned during childhood and UK visitors often struggle to square their very defined sense of the city with the sprawling, overwhelming mass of humanity we encounter. But culturally speaking it remains one of the most significant places on earth, and what better way to engage with that culture than through a 66-year-old family-run printers.

The Colby Poster Printing Co. has been a fixture of the city’s scene since 1946 (take a look at its wonderfully old-school website) producing eye-catching work for clients ranging from fashion houses to grass-roots political campaigns, often with a technicolour twist.

For a new show at London’s KK Outlet opening tomorrow, Anthony Burrill has raided the Colby archive to present a selection of their finest work alongside some newly-produced Colby/Burill collaborations.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the gallery has also commissioned a set of behind-the-scenes photographs to document the kind of world which sends print fetishists (like us) into a swoon. LA rarely looked so appealing.

Made in LA runs until October 27.

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Colby Poster Printing Co: Party poster

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Colby Poster Printing Co: Poster for Reference Library

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Colby Poster Printing Co: Made in LA installation shot

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Colby Poster Printing Co: Save our Fishing Poster

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Colby Poster Printing Co: Gig poster

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Colby Poster Printing Co/Anthony Burrill: We Are All In This Together

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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Davi Sing: Colby Poster Printing Co for KK Outlet

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About the Author

Rob Alderson

Rob joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in July 2011 before becoming Editor-in-Chief and working across all editorial projects including itsnicethat.com, Printed Pages, Here and Nicer Tuesdays. Rob left It’s Nice That in June 2015.

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