American Airlines Chicago travel poster by Fred Conway
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1965
This American Airlines travel poster, created circa 1965, is a distinct example of mid-century commercial art commissioned for a destination series. Designed by the celebrated American painter, muralist, and fine arts professor Fred Conway, the poster departs from typical photo-realistic or graphic vector styles of the period.
Instead, it utilizes a painterly, Expressionist, and Abstract Impressionist approach to depict the Chicago River corridor. Conway employed heavy, textured impasto applications and a palette of saturated primary colors to convey the vibrancy and energy of downtown Chicago. The poster measures approximately 30 inches by 40.75 inches and has been professionally linen-backed. The composition features the Chicago cityscape from an abstract perspective, incorporating architectural elements and urban activity through a rich, impasto style that reflects Conway's fine arts background rather than commercial illustration norms.
The design includes the prominent text "CHICAGO" and "AMERICAN AIRLINES" at the top, along with the American Airlines logo. The artist’s signature, "Fred Conway," is present on the work.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Mounting
- Linen-backed
- Dimensions
- 30 inches x 40.75 inches
Technical characteristics
- Printing style
- painterly impasto
Design
- Style
- Expressionist and Abstract Impressionist
- Subject
- Chicago River corridor cityscape
- Inscriptions
- CHICAGO, AMERICAN AIRLINES, Fred Conway
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Fred Conway
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.