This is a poster for Andy Warhol’s Velvet Underground performances at The Trauma, located at 2121 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The shows took place on July 19-22 and July 26-29, 1967. Designed by artist Karen Fritz, the poster measures approximately 16.25 x 12.5 inches and exemplifies the bold, psychedelic aesthetic of the era.
The design features a vivid color palette dominated by red, orange, and purple, with large, stylized flowers framing the text. The orange color is actual the paper. The swirling, hand-drawn typography is characteristic of 1960s psychedelic posters, creating a dynamic and visually captivating composition. Warhol’s name is prominently displayed at the top, followed by “Velvet Underground and The Muffins,” emphasizing the headlining acts. Additional performers, such as The Beacon Street Union and The Mandrake Memorial, are listed alongside their respective dates.
The text provides details of multiple acts and performances, extending into August with bands such as The Wildflowers from San Francisco. The dates and times are clearly presented, indicating the events took place on Wednesdays through Saturdays at 9 PM.
Karen Fritz’s design perfectly captures the countercultural energy of the time, blending vibrant, organic shapes with innovative typography. The poster not only serves as promotional material but also as an art piece reflecting the experimental and rebellious spirit of the 1960s music scene.
A 6 1/4″ x 8″ handbill/flyer with the same design was also produced, printed in the same vivid color palette on orange paper, offering a smaller, more portable version of the poster. This handbill, like the poster, features Karen Fritz’s striking artwork with its swirling typography, bold floral motifs, and vibrant hues, making it a visually impactful piece despite its reduced size. The inclusion of this handbill as part of the promotional campaign reflects the grassroots approach to marketing concerts during the 1960s, ensuring the events reached as wide an audience as possible.
Both the poster and handbill serve as remarkable examples of the synergy between visual art and music in the 1960s counterculture, embodying the experimental energy of Andy Warhol’s collaboration with The Velvet Underground. The handbill’s compact size makes it a unique collectible, offering fans and historians an additional piece of memorabilia that encapsulates this transformative era in music and art history.