Category Archives: Willi’s Bottle Art Posters

Willi’s Wine Bar 1980-2010 – just the beginning

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Perhaps I should have thought of this earlier. We wish you a joy filled, successful, healthy 2010 with many great moments being with friends – wine glasses filled, naturellement !

The table you love to hate

 

Get ready to say goodbye to the Willi’s that some of you have known & loved for all of 30 years. Sadly the grumpy old patron stays, but the kitchen, even with François in it, will be a whole new place as will the bar & a few other details.

Work starts on February 19th & will end on March 9th. During this time Macéo will be doing everything it can to make the Willi’s orphans feel at home.

May the powers of Saint Vincent be with us

Alberto Bali shows a leg – in private

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INVITFRELAND

alberto Bali - Exhibition - Grande Finale - Été 2009

 

Alberto Bali, creator of two of the most loved Willi’s posters of all time, in holding a private exhibition entitled ‘Construcciones’ (by appointment, mes amis) at the Grande Finale in Fréland – which being in Alsace, is currently in France. From the 7th June – 18th September. Téléphone (33) 617935010.

Willi’s Artist Tom Fowler’s Inuit Collection at the De Young Museum

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Willi's Wine Bar 2003

Willi's Wine Bar 2003

Our sadly departed friend Tom Fowler, the artist who created the sensational 20th anniversary poster for Willi’s Wine Bar, was also a dedicated collector of the artistry of the native Alaskan and Inuit people. His collection is exceptional in its quality, comprehensiveness, and scope. It contains over 400 works including masks, amulets, baskets, tools, games, carvings, and containers from the earliest recorded Alaskan periods to contemporary works of native artists of Arctic Canada. This unique collection has been donated to the de Young Museum (part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco).

 

Toms collection is an excellent addition to the de Young Museums indigenous West Coast collections. The Museum owns many fine examples of baskets made by California Native Americans and select works from Northwest Coast peoples, and this new bequest will strengthen the holdings by providing objects from the northern Pacific Rim. – Not only does the Thomas G. Fowler Collection enhance our Native American holdings, it is a perfect compliment to the Museum’s world-class collection of the arts of New Guinea, Africa, and the Ancient Americas,- says John E. Buchanan, Jr., Director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

The opening for this important collection will be on August 28, 2009 at the
de Young Museum – 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park – California, USA.

Palliser exposes himself in Atlanta

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Salammbo, 2007, Anthony Palliser

Salammbo, 2007, Anthony Palliser

Known to us all for the much sort after Revoloution poster he did for Willi’s a year late back in 1990, Anthony Palliser is finally putting on the Mother of all shows in Atlanta, chez the Besharat Gallery starting on March 21st. The show will include the Jumping Man, a great piece that was on show in Maceo until quite recently. Anthony’s unusual portraits include a series of striking very large paintings of artistic and political figures including Bobby Zarem, John Hurt, Kenzo Takada, James Ivory & John Hurt, not forgetting the enchanting and mystical Charlotte Rampling.

If you are within reach of Atlanta before the end of May, do not miss it !

Iconic French Designer is Latest Artist in the Willi’s Bottle Art Collection

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Jean Charles de CastelbajacPop culture icon and radical fashion designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac is the newest addition to the illustrious list of internationally recognized artists – chosen each year – to create and sign a poster for the Willi s Bottle Art Collection inspired by the notion that there is art in wine enjoyment.

The latest vintage release showcases Castelbajac s signature cherub appreciating the seductive aromas rising from a mysterious glass of red wine. Reflecting his spirit of entente cordiale, humor and fun, the mix of colors are inspired by the Lego building blocks. Castelbajac s original flagship Parisian store was located next to Willi s Wine Bar in the 1980 s, setting the scene for the creation of this delightful poster.

The very first limited edition Willi s Bottle Art poster was a previously unpublished 1935 image by graphics maestro AM Cassandre, whose revolutionary 1930s creations for the Dubonnet wine company were specifically designed to be seen by occupants in fast-moving vehicles. Willi s homage to Cassandre has been followed by a host of distinguished and innovative contemporary artists including – Wayne Ensrud preeminent bon vivant painter of some of France s greatest chateaux, vineyards and restaurants, Lyu Hanabusa – a globally admired Japanese photographer of the glorious and gorgeous, Anthony Palliser – talented portraitist with a waiting list of commissions and whose well-known works can be found in the National Portrait Gallery and the House of Commons in London, Alberto Bali – sculptor, painter and top restaurant designer, as well as artists Xavier Mariscal, Tom Fowler and the -English Rose- Sophie Herxheimer, to mention but a few in this increasing and select circle.

Behind the collection lies a desire for the chosen artist to create an image that reflects their personal impressions of the enjoyment of wine in a convivial and inclusive context, or as Williamson says, “To create an image that reflects the love, appreciation, and the joyous qualities of wine.”

All of the Willi’s Bottle Art posters are lithographic images printed in Paris on Velin.  This latest vintage by Castelbajac has a Collector Edition of 200 hand signed by the artist at $450 – and a standard signed printing of 2000 copies at $79.  Dimentions 63cm x 93cm – 24.8ins x 36.6ins. The posters are easily ordered online at http://www.williswinebar.us and are shipped worldwide directly from Paris delivery taking 4-8 days; depending upon the method of shipping.