Poster House Opened Designed to Be Red Exhibition

The New York City museum is currently displaying a century of Indigenous graphic works.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Fine Art

Poster House Opened Designed to Be Red Exhibition

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Poster House has opened its latest exhibition, Designed to Be Red, which highlights over 100 years of visual history. The collection features diverse graphic works and aims to address questions regarding Indigenous design influences.

Why it matters

Curator Brian Johnson developed the exhibition to directly respond to inquiries from Native students about the historical impact and evolution of Indigenous design.

The exhibition covers a century of visual history through posters, a stretched animal hide, and other graphic works. It is organized into five distinct thematic sections.

The players

Brian Johnson

He is the curator of the exhibition and author of the companion text Designed to Be Red: Native American & Indigenous Graphic Works.

Poster House

This New York City museum specializes in the study and display of posters and graphic design history.

Kent Monkman

He is a prominent visual artist whose works are featured within the exhibition.

Jeffrey Gibson

He is a noted artist whose graphic contributions are included in the museum's new display.

The details

The exhibition layout is specifically designed to guide viewers through a narrative arc that moves from the Extractive Marketing section back to the Indigenous Joy section. It highlights works by artists including Kent Monkman, Jeffrey Gibson, and SIYO-WIN.

November 2022: Brian Johnson delivered a lecture at Poster House.
1971: The crying Indian TV advertisement was broadcast.
1990s: Specific Census campaign posters featured in the exhibition were created.
October 2026: The exhibition is currently on view at the museum.
February 21, 2027: The exhibition closes at Poster House.

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Industry Dynamics

This exhibition aligns with broader museum efforts to re-evaluate historical graphic archives through the lens of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian's design archives. It reflects a shift toward elevating Indigenous artistic contributions within mainstream institutional settings.

Visitors can view the exhibition at the Poster House museum in New York City through February 2027. A companion book authored by Brian Johnson is also available for purchase at the museum shop for those interested in further study.

The takeaway

The exhibition offers a critical opportunity for the public to engage with a century of Indigenous graphic design. Visitors can gain a deeper understanding of how historical media campaigns have influenced cultural perceptions over time.