Hair 1979

Robert Peak made this poster for the film Hair, likely in the late 70s, using what looks like airbrush and gouache. There’s a real sense of freedom in this image, the figures are caught mid-motion with trails of pink paint radiating out, almost like streamers. The paint is layered in thin washes, which gives the whole thing a kind of ethereal glow. The artist has used a limited palette, focusing on the primaries: blue, red, and yellow, but he has really pushed what he can achieve with those colors through blending and layering. Look at the way the paint has been applied, it’s so smooth and even, especially in the pink areas. This gives the poster a dreamlike quality. The artist has captured something really joyful and optimistic. It reminds me of Alex Katz’s work, with its focus on capturing fleeting moments and gestures. Both artists seem to understand that art is not about perfection, but about capturing a feeling or a mood.