What's Happening?
Dorothy Waugh, a Modernist designer known for creating the first in-house National Parks poster campaign for the U.S. government during the Great Depression, is the focus of a solo exhibition at New York's Poster House. The exhibition, titled 'Blazing
a Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters,' showcases all 17 posters she designed for the National Park Service between 1934 and 1936. These works are noted for their bold, experimental style that helped establish a new visual language for federal design and broke ground for women in a male-dominated field. Despite her significant contributions, Waugh's work has been largely overlooked until now. The exhibition aims to reintroduce her as a key figure in American Modernist graphic design and New Deal-era cultural history.
Why It's Important?
The exhibition of Dorothy Waugh's work is significant as it highlights the contributions of a female designer in a period when the field was predominantly male. Her posters not only played a crucial role in promoting the National Parks during the Great Depression but also represented a shift in government-sponsored design, moving away from traditional depictions to more abstract and optimistic representations. This shift was part of a broader strategy to boost national morale and stimulate local economies by encouraging travel to national parks. Waugh's work is a testament to the power of design in public policy and cultural history, and her recognition helps to address historical gender imbalances in the field of graphic design.
What's Next?
The exhibition at Poster House runs until February 22, 2026, providing an opportunity for the public to engage with Waugh's work and appreciate her contributions to American design. The recognition of her work may inspire further research and exhibitions on other overlooked figures in design history. Additionally, it could encourage contemporary designers to explore the intersection of art, public policy, and cultural heritage, drawing inspiration from Waugh's innovative approach.
Beyond the Headlines
Dorothy Waugh's story also raises questions about how historical narratives are constructed and who gets remembered. Her diverse career, which included roles in landscape architecture, publishing, and education, reflects a broader trend of women contributing significantly to multiple fields but often being forgotten due to a lack of institutional support or personal legacy. The exhibition not only revives her legacy but also prompts a reevaluation of how we preserve and celebrate the contributions of women in the arts and beyond.
