Michael Schwab, Creating the Hero

A 50-year retrospective of the graphic art and design of Michael Schwab Studio, this large format book includes over 200 color plates revealing hand-drawn preliminary sketches and Polaroid photos of his models that are the basis of his work. Together, they open a window into Schwab’s studio and his world of heroic and iconic characters. Truly coffee table worthy.

Clients include: Amtrak, Apple, Major League Baseball, Levi Strauss & Co, National Parks Service, Nike, The North Face, NY Metropolitan Opera, Pebble Beach, Polo Ralph Lauren, Robert Redford, The San Francisco Opera, Scribners, Turner Classic Movies, US Dept. of the Interior, 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Michael’s work included in these permanent collections: San Francisco Palace of the Legion of Honor: Achenbach Collection, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Library of Congress Permanent Collection, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Various Exhibits: WILD WEST: Plains to the Pacific 2016 Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; Images of America 2004 Sundance, Utah; One Man Show 2001 San Francisco Palace of the Legion of Honor; Moscow International Poster Triennale 1992; Colorado International Triennale 1989; 12th International Poster Biennale 1998 Warsaw; Triennial of Posters 1994 Toyama, Japan; Pacific Wave California 1987 Italy; XIV Biennale Des Arts Graphiques 1990 Brno, Czechoslovakia; World’s Most Memorable Poster Exhibit 1992 Paris.

From his studio in Marin County, Michael Schwab has established a reputation as one of America’s most recognized and best loved graphic artists. His remarkable list of prestigious clients includes Amtrak, Levi’s, the National Parks Service, Robert Redford and the San Francisco Opera. Originally from Oklahoma, Michael attended school in Texas, New York and California. He has a broad array of cultural and geographic references to which he turns for inspiration. His work is easily recognized by his signature use of dramatic perspectives and bold, graphic portraits. His work is striking in its simplicity.