This vibrant poster, created by Wes Wilson, announces a three-night performance at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco on May 27, 28, and 29, 1966. Presented by Bill Graham, the event featured “Andy Warhol and His Plastic Inevitable,” including performances by The Velvet Underground and Nico, along with the Mothers of Invention. The design prominently showcases the experimental and avant-garde nature of the show, which blended music, film, and art into an immersive multimedia experience.
The poster’s swirling typography and dynamic layout reflect the psychedelic aesthetic of the mid-1960s. The lettering appears to spiral and expand across the artwork, creating an optical movement effect that echoes the energy of the performances. The color scheme, predominantly orange and black, gives the poster a striking and bold appearance, capturing the viewer’s attention immediately.
Measuring approximately 20″ x 14″, this poster was accompanied by a later-run set of postcards measuring around 5″ x 7″. These subsequent prints are distinguished by the presence of a Union bug in the lower left-hand corner, indicating their authenticity as part of the first-run editions. The original poster and postcards were both iconic memorabilia from the Fillmore’s legendary concert series.
This event was pivotal in the rise of The Velvet Underground and Nico, combining their raw, avant-garde sound with Andy Warhol’s visionary artistic direction. It showcased the convergence of rock music and visual art, a hallmark of Warhol’s collaborations, and highlighted the Fillmore as a leading venue in San Francisco’s burgeoning counterculture scene. This poster remains a quintessential piece of rock history and graphic design from the 1960s.