Julius Friedman collection

Julius Friedman (1943-2017) was a well-known and beloved Louisville artist and designer. Friedman was the co-founder of the design firm Images, which focused primarily on book and poster design. Known internationally for his posters, Friedman’s work has been displayed in galleries and museums throughout the United States and world. Friedman’s iconic posters include “Toe on Egg” for the Louisville Ballet, “Fresh Paint” for the Kentucky Arts Commission, and “Ice Cream in French Horn” for the Louisville Orchestra. He often designed posters for non-profit and cultural organizations pro bono. Friedman’s work is part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Poster House in New York City, and the National Museum of Poster Art in Poland. In addition to graphic design, Friedman worked in photography – often printing on unique surfaces like metals and fabrics, as well as sculpture, furniture design, collage art and collaborative video. After studying graphic design at the University of Louisville, Julius Friedman began his career as a graphic designer in the mid-1960s. From the late 1960s through the early 1980s, he ran the design studio Images with his business partner Nathan Felde. Together they collaborated on design work for commercial and non-profit clients including Liberty National Bank, the Speed Art Museum, and the Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency of Louisville. In 1980, Public Works, a book of poster work by Friedman and Felde, was published. In the late 1970s, Friedman and Felde formed a partnership with Franklin J. Ross in the design business Implement, Ltd. After his partnerships with Felde and Ross ended in the early 1980s, Friedman owned and operated his design studio Images independently. From 1993-2000, he partnered with Mike Slone, and they collaborated on many design projects together during this time including the Brown-Forman annual reports for which they won several awards. In 1985, Friedman became involved with the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) and maintained a relationship with the organization for the rest of his life. He spoke or judged at several UCDA Design Competitions. In 1991, Friedman along with 3 other UCDA members came up with the concept for UCDA’s “Hot and Now” workshops. In 2013, Friedman was awarded the UCDA award which is presented by the UCDA Board to Directors to a person who donated their time, service, and support to further UCDA’s goals. In 1993, Friedman opened Images Friedman Gallery at 833 W. Main Street in Louisville and exhibited art from regional, national, and international artists. In 2001, Friedman opened the Chapman Friedman Gallery at 624 W. Main Street in Louisville with his then-wife Cheryl Chapman after closing his other gallery. In 2004, Friedman received the Kentucky Governor’s Awards in the Arts Business Award. In the later years of Friedman’s career, he experimented in several different mediums. This included stacking rocks on his farm, printing photos on aluminum, and creating ceramics. After being gifted some discarded books by his friend Gail Gilbert, former art librarian at the University of Louisville, he began deconstructing books and turning them into pieces of art. This work culminated in the publication of The Book, a collection of photographs of his book collages and assemblages. In 2016, the Frazier Museum had a fifty-year retrospective of Friedman’s career which included over 200 posters, 3-D photography, and a multimedia exhibit. Friedman died on July 16, 2017, after a brief battle with cancer. After his death, his sister Carol Abrams donated his collection to the University of Louisville Archives and Special Collections and created the Julius Friedman Foundation to continue his legacy.