Celebrating 'On Language'

In late 2005, The New York Times Magazine's On Language column, a weekly reflection on current usage of the English language (traditionally written, since 1979, by William Safire), took a new visual turn. Instead of simply typesetting the headline each week in standard fashion, then-Art Director Arem Duplessis (who is now the Design Director) saw an opportunity to create something more; a forum for typographic play. He proposed that a different artist, designer or illustrator interpret that headline every week instead.

Five years and well over two hundred contributors later, the On Language column has become a showcase for contemporary typography. The New York Times Magazine is proud to announce an exhibition of these works: Curated over the years by Kristina DiMatteo, Gail Bichler, Leo Jung, Hilary Greenbaum, Cathy Gilmore-Barnes, Aviva Michaelov and Robert Vargas, the show includes contributions from Ed Fella, Marian Bantjes, Tauba Auerbach, James Victore, Karel Martens, Alex Trochut, Kevin Lyons and many, many more.

"Wordplay: The lettering of 'On Language'" opens on Thursday, April 22, at The New York Times Building, 620 8th Avenue, 7th floor. RSVP is required to: galleryseven@nytimes.com. We just RSVP'd -- hope to see you there as well!

Above illustration: Wayne White, November 4, 2007 issue.
Below, a glimpse at a few of the other works and artists who are part of the exhibit...