Edward McKnight Kauffer (1890–1954) was one of the most influential poster artists of the 20th century. Born in Montana, he moved to San Francisco in the early 1900s, working as a bookseller while attending art school in the evenings. It was there that he met Joseph McKnight, a professor from the University of Utah who recognised his talent and in 1912 sponsored him to study in Paris. Out of gratitude, Kauffer adopted “McKnight” as his middle name — a turning point that launched his career.

In Paris he absorbed the radical innovations of Cubism and Futurism before relocating to London at the outbreak of the First World War.

His work for the London Underground and later for Shell - combining bold geometry, striking colour, and a sense of movement that felt utterly modern - transformed everyday advertising into modernist street art, earning him the nickname “the poster king”. He also designed stage sets, book illustrations, textile labels, and even the front cover of the BBC’s Handbook in 1928 and opening titles for Hitchcock’s The Lodger (1927).

Returning to the United States in 1940, Kauffer continued to work for major clients such as American Airlines and the New York subway. Throughout his career, he championed the idea that art should be democratic — not confined to galleries but part of daily life. He wanted his work to spark imaginations, transforming everyday posters into invitations to see the world differently.