The Ed Mell Gallery is now offering collectors a unique opportunity to own a piece of the late artist’s legacy with rare posters from Mell’s personal archives. Known for his evocative depictions of the Southwest, Mell’s artwork was featured on posters promoting festivals, rodeos, car auctions and other events. Following his passing last year, these limited-edition prints ($100–$450) are now available for purchase online. “This allows Ed Mell’s artwork to reach homes across the country,” says gallery manager Victoria Klotz. “The posters not only capture a moment in time but also affirm Mell’s lasting influence on history and culture.

Klotz gives more insight into these vintage posters, what they were made more and how they play a role in Mell’s legacy as an artist.

Tell readers about these posters and why the gallery is releasing them now.

These posters have been sitting in different areas of the studio. I took the time to organize them all at the beginning of the year. Ed had approached me several times since 2022 to sell them because he knew that it was in my skill set to do so. Before Ed passed away, we agreed to work together on selling the posters. I think it is important to allow the community to purchase a piece of Ed’s artwork at an affordable price. These posters will fulfill just that.

These are all vintage posters—tell us about where they came from.

Posters were a great way to advertise before the business implementation of social media. Ed could see the benefit of lending his artwork to be on posters for events, galleries and community organizations because it got his artwork out to the Arizona community.

After a poster run was printed, Ed would receive a portion of the run to sell or keep himself. The posters we have are Ed’s personal posters. On the back of the poster, there is an Ed Mell Gallery stamp, authenticating the poster came directly from Ed Mell’s studio.

Ed was known for painting iconic Southwestern landscapes—what places are depicted in this collection?

Places in Arizona such as Piestewa Peak in Phoenix, mountains in Cave Creek, the Grand Canyon and the three mesas on the Hopi Reservation.

What eras of Ed’s career will people find among these posters?  

 
1980s to 2000s, and just a handful in the 2010s.

These posters are in limited quantity—will you print any in the future?

What we are selling is what Ed held onto from the past decades of making posters. We are not making any copies of these posters. Once they sell, they will be gone and the only way to get a copy is through the secondary market—if you can find it.

How do these works, and releasing these pieces, contribute to Ed’s legacy?   

Expanding our client reach to an online platform allows anyone in the U.S. to acquire and afford an Ed Mell poster. This lends the ability to spread Ed Mell’s artwork throughout the U.S. The posters document the passage of time and their impact and popularity show Ed Mell was not just making history, he was a part of it.

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What tips do you have for framing and displaying a vintage piece like this?

Ed preferred to use a simple wooden black frame for his posters. He felt as though any other frame was competing with the work.

For more, go to edmellgallery.com.