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Art Paul of Playboy: The Man Behind the Bunny presents the life and lasting impact of Art Paul, founding art director of Playboy magazine, creator of the iconic bunny logo, and an unsung, legendary artist of our times. Paul’s thirty-year tenure at Playboy single-handedly changed the landscape of the two-dimensional magazine and revolutionized the relationship between art and publishing. Through conversations with Paul himself, archival footage and imagery, and interviews with artists, graphic designers, art directors, and former Playboy executives who worked with him, Art Paul of Playboy: The Man Behind the Bunny reveals the life and accomplishments of a legendary art director, acclaimed artist and inspiring human being.
The film is available at Amazon Prime. |
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Art Paul passed away on April 28, 2018, as we were wrapping up the production of this documentary film about him. We took comfort in the fact that he watched the final cut of the film and approved it.
Paul was best known as the founding art director of Playboy (1953-1982) and creator of the iconic rabbit logo. During his tenure at Playboy Magazine, Paul was credited for “illustration liberation” for his innovation in magazine design and using fine artists to do illustration. “He blurred the line between fine arts and commercial arts,” said Christie Hefner, former CEO of Playboy Enterprises. Paul was born and grew up in Chicago, graduated from Sullivan High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps during WWII. After the war, he attended the Institute of Design (ID) in Chicago. |
Paul received numerous awards and recognitions, including entry to the Hall of Fame at the Art Directors Club, the Herb Lubalin Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Publication Designers, and entry to the prestigious Alliance Graphique Internationale, among others.
He retired early from Playboy to pursue his own artistic interests — painting, writing, composing music and drawing. His works were exhibited in recent years at the Ukraine Institute of Modern Art in Chicago, the Chicago Design Museum, and the CODA Gallery in California.
Over the last decade, Paul suffered from macular degeneration and dementia, but he embraced his limitations and expressed his dealings with them in his artwork with grace, dignity and humor. He was and will continue to be an inspiration.
He retired early from Playboy to pursue his own artistic interests — painting, writing, composing music and drawing. His works were exhibited in recent years at the Ukraine Institute of Modern Art in Chicago, the Chicago Design Museum, and the CODA Gallery in California.
Over the last decade, Paul suffered from macular degeneration and dementia, but he embraced his limitations and expressed his dealings with them in his artwork with grace, dignity and humor. He was and will continue to be an inspiration.