Admire Dazzling City Skylines With Our Custom Posters
Some of the most inspiring places in America are hundreds of feet above ground: the impressive skylines of our nation's greatest cities.
In 2010, our poster art team began creating travel posters of our favorite American cities, illustrated in the style of the Golden Age of Poster Art (early to mid-20th Century). The vintage poster art of that period celebrated America's growing cities, often depicting their skylines in a style that accentuated their Art Deco features.
ADG carries on the tradition of early poster artists. Since 2010, our artists have created over 500 designs celebrating the history and charm of America's most beloved cities, and the collection has expanded to include original renditions of American natural wonders and iconic, historic destinations. The following are our ten favorite American cities, including previews of art we've made for their skylines.
New York Skyline
We may have a bias for the Nashville skyline (more about the Nashville skyline later), but one of our favorite skyline prints is almost certainly one that depicts the New York skyline. New York is known for its Art Deco buildings and its mid-20th century flair, most on display in the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. But it's not all vintage in the city that never sleeps. The Big Apple has also embraced modern design features, on display in buildings like the One World Trade Center.
Seattle Skyline
A skyline poster should enable the viewer to recognize the city within a second or two of viewing the poster. That means including recognizable landmarks. Case in point, the most iconic feature of the Seattle skyline is the Space Needle. But that's just the beginning. This skyline is densely packed and carefully organized, given the limited land area in downtown Seattle. Also, the skyline includes views of Puget Sound and, on clear-sky days, Mount Rainier.
Philadelphia Skyline
Skyline art has been popular for decades, and few places produce as compelling a view as the Philadelphia skyline. From the towering spires just beyond the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to the infamous City Hall building, Philadelphia's skyline combines iconic depictions of one of America's oldest cities with new and exciting design features and developments.
Los Angeles Skyline
ADG's study of early and mid-20th-century designs and Los Angeles poster art has allowed us to produce inspiring, wanderlust-inducing Los Angeles skyline poster art. An artistic city since the onset of film and television, the presence of the arts in Los Angeles has influenced the city's skyline, producing memorable buildings framed by palm trees and mountain peaks in the distance.
Chicago Skyline
Large wall art of the Chicago skyline is best done when it depicts the Windy City in all its turn-of-the-century glory. Chicago played a significant role in America's Industrial Revolution, and many of the city's greatest buildings were built by coal, iron, steel, lumber, and shipping barons. Chicago boasts four of America's eight tallest buildings, and some of the city's best-preserved skyscrapers depict an iconic, mid-century, and Art Deco design style. Many of the city's most impressive buildings can be seen along the Magnificent Mile or from the Navy Pier.
San Francisco Skyline
Instantly recognizable, the San Francisco skyline is perhaps best depicted with a wall poster that includes a rendition of the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Other local icons include the Coit Tower and the Palace of Fine Arts. Another great way to view this city's skyline is to leave the city limits, head to Muir Woods National Monument, and view the city's skyline from the cool, shaded comfort of ancient coast redwood trees.
Washington, D.C. Skyline
The impressive panorama of the Washington, D.C. skyline includes many instantly recognizable features like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Capitol building. While D.C. does not have as many skyscrapers as other large American cities, the nation's most important city instead preserves some of America's oldest and most iconic structures.
Dallas Skyline
Custom poster art of the Dallas skyline is best done with river views and sunsets, as these are some of the most iconic features of the Texas gem. With several buildings over 700 feet tall and some of the best after-hours lighting displays in the country, the city's urban center does not disappoint. The JFK Memorial, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, and Fountain Place are some of the city's instantly recognizable buildings.
Houston Skyline
The Houston skyline provides numerous opportunities for original city art. Nicknamed the "City with No Limits" and "Space City," Houston does these monikers justice by producing arguably the most impressive skyline in the South. Its skyline is the third largest in the U.S., and the JPMorgan Chase Tower is the tallest in the Lone Star state, at 1,002 feet tall.
Atlanta Skyline
Poster prints of the Atlanta skyline are best done with colors and a visual tone that embodies the city's southern charm. Our favorite Atlanta poster art includes depictions of the city's scenic parks, with skyscrapers in the background. Oranges and reds are particularly well displayed in Atlanta art, as the city is often adorned with stunning sunsets and sunrises.
Bonus City: The Nashville Skyline
We may have a bias, but the Nashville skyline ranks quite high in our opinion on the list of best American skylines. From the "Batman" building to Broadway Honky Tonks, Music City's skyline has a combination of old, mid-20th century buildings and iconic structures even older than that. Also, the skyline is always changing because the city is growing rapidly.
Wall Art of American Cities
American travel enthusiasts have their pick of custom posters in the American Travel Collection. From modern wall art to vintage poster art, this collection is ADG's largest yet, featuring hundreds of original illustrations that depict the best travel locations in the U.S.
If you're looking for travel inspiration for your next journey across the States, or if you'd like a souvenir from a recent trip, the American Travel poster art collection is the place to start.
Here's to incredible travel moments in all 50 states!
-Ren Brabenec
Anderson Design Group Staff Writer
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