Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York
HOTA: Home of the Arts
2023
Studio Starr led the creative direction, exhibition identity and interpretive graphic system for Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York, the inaugural international exhibition at HOTA Gallery.
Presented in partnership with HOTA and drawn from the Mugrabi family’s private collection, the exhibition featured over 50 works by leading figures in Pop Art and contemporary culture, including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring.
As the gallery’s first international exhibition, the project required a bold and highly legible design approach that could engage a broad public audience while responding to the cultural context of the Gold Coast. Studio Starr developed a strong graphic identity and colour system that shaped the visual experience of the exhibition across all gallery spaces.
Working in collaboration with the exhibition designer, Studio Starr established the typographic, colour and interpretive framework that structured the exhibition. Distinct colour palettes were used to define zones aligned with artists and periods, providing clarity and rhythm throughout the visitor journey while maintaining a cohesive overall identity.
Large-scale graphic interventions, typographic treatments and interpretive elements were designed to balance accessibility with visual impact, ensuring the exhibition remained engaging for first-time visitors while supporting curatorial intent.
The result is a visually assertive and highly accessible exhibition environment that introduces international contemporary art to a broad audience, reinforcing HOTA Gallery’s position as a major cultural destination.
– Creative direction and exhibition identity
– Exhibition-wide typography and graphic system
– Colour strategy and zoning framework
– Interpretive hierarchy and information design
Studio Starr was a joy to work with. On both the exhibition 2D design and exhibition catalogue (Pop Masters) they understood our aims for the project and who our audience was.
Working to demanding timeframes Chris developed an exhibition identity that felt perfect for HOTA, that celebrated the art and the themes of the project in a fresh, contemporary and ambitious way. His work in extending this to the exhibition installation and publication was seamless. Under tight deadlines his collaborative, solutions-focused approach was vital in keeping the project on-time and on-budget.
Bradley Vincent
HOTA Gallery
