Wes Wilson

Heavily influenced by stylistic elements from Art Nouveau and with psychedelic's melting typography, Wes Wilson left an unmistakable mark on the aesthetics of the late sixties. With adjacent complementary colours and expansive compositions, his works become a kind of popular culture's equivalent to the older art history's horror vacui. This is particularly evident in record covers, or, as in the auction's concert posters, promotional material for Bill Graham's various events at, among others, San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium – where bands like The Velvet Underground, Doors, and Jimi Hendrix Experience performed. Or, the Grateful Dead, who between 1965 and 1969 played over fifty shows at the venue. His influence affected contemporary artists such as Rick Griffin and Stanley “Mouse” Miller and helped establish a style that remained highly vital into the following decade.