The London Transport Museum has launched a major new exhibition celebrating a full century of Art Deco design on the London Underground system. The comprehensive showcase marks the 100th anniversary of the iconic 1925 Paris exhibition where the Art Deco movement first originated, offering visitors both an extensive look at historic poster designs and a special celebration of the many women artists who contributed to this revolutionary artistic movement.
The exhibition features over one hundred meticulously curated posters and artworks by legendary design masters including Edward McKnight Kauffer, Dora Batty, and Jean Dupas. These remarkable pieces have been carefully selected from the museum's extensive archives, with many works not having been displayed in public exhibitions for several years. The collection provides visitors with a rare opportunity to see some of the most significant examples of Art Deco design in London's transportation history.
While the exhibition draws heavily from historical archives, it also bridges the gap between past and present by incorporating modern reinterpretations of the classic Art Deco style. Contemporary works featured in the display include striking posters by acclaimed artist Paul Catherall and innovative tube maps designed by Maxwell Roberts, demonstrating how the Art Deco aesthetic continues to influence modern design.
One of the exhibition's most fascinating elements includes previously rare photographs documenting the attempted streamline design process for what eventually became the famous 1938 tube stock. Among these historical images is one photograph that has never been publicly displayed before, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into the design evolution of London's underground transportation system.
The interactive elements of the exhibition include an engaging touchscreen game that allows visitors to select and rank various posters based on their Art Deco characteristics and styling. This hands-on feature provides an educational and entertaining way for guests to develop their understanding of the movement's distinctive visual elements and aesthetic principles.
While the exhibition maintains its primary focus on London's public transportation design heritage, it also incorporates a carefully selected sampling of travel advertisements from various other European countries. This international perspective adds a broader continental flavor to the exhibition space and helps contextualize London's Art Deco movement within the wider European artistic landscape of the era.
In a particularly amusing meta-artistic touch, one of the featured posters actually advertises an exhibition about posters that was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1931. This self-referential element adds a layer of historical irony and demonstrates the long-standing tradition of celebrating poster art in London's cultural institutions.
The exhibition officially opened on November 21st, 2025, and is scheduled to run through the spring of 2027, giving visitors an extended opportunity to explore this comprehensive celebration of Art Deco design. Entry to the Global Poster Gallery is included with standard London Transport Museum admission, making this significant cultural offering accessible to all museum visitors during the exhibition's extended run.
