“TADANORI YOKOO – EARTH, WIND AND FIRE 1976”, Japanese Contemporary Art Poster, Original Offset 1976, Ultra‑Rare, B1 Size (c. 73 × 101 cm)
This is an original Japanese offset poster printed in 1976 to promote Earth, Wind & Fire for CBS/Sony. Designed by the legendary Tadanori Yokoo, it is one of the most sought‑after music posters of the 1970s and is now held in major museum collections such as The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, where it is catalogued as Earth, Wind & Fire (CBS Sony), 1976, offset print on paper.
Ultra‑rare in any state of preservation, surviving examples are exceptionally hard to find—especially in this large B1 format with the original “Not For Sale.” and “Design: Tadanori Yokoo” credit printed down the left margin and the CBS/SONY logo at lower right.
Known for his vibrant and dynamic collage style, Yokoo’s work here channels the spiritual, cosmic energy of Earth, Wind & Fire at their mid‑’70s peak. Sacred and art‑historical imagery swirls together with the band members in gleaming white suits, flames arcing around them in a psychedelic mandala of rebirth and transcendence. It’s a visually dazzling piece that fuses pop culture, mysticism and fine art—an absolute must‑have for both music fans and serious poster collectors, representing the meeting of two creative powerhouses: Earth, Wind & Fire and Tadanori Yokoo.
One of Japan’s most famous graphic designers, Yokoo is a towering figure in post‑war visual culture. His iconic posters and album covers for artists like The Beatles, Miles Davis, Carlos Santana and Cat Stevens helped define the global look of 1970s music. His psychedelic imagery blends traditional Japanese motifs with Pop art, Surrealism and American poster design, anticipating the San Francisco rock‑poster style. Yokoo’s work was exhibited at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in the seminal 1968 show Word and Image and has continued to appear in major retrospectives worldwide. He frequently juxtaposed symbols of Japanese imperial imagery—rising suns, Mount Fuji, bullet trains—with provocative or mystical content, drawing on ukiyo‑e printmaking, collage and, after a formative journey to India, Buddhist and Hindu iconography.
Condition
Very good to excellent display‑used condition for a nearly 50‑year‑old poster, but not near‑mint like the previous example we sold—this has clearly done its job on a wall and survived. There are multiple old hanging/punch holes and some tape residue in the upper margin (and related marks at the corners), minor edge nicks and soft corner bends, and a small tear/crease around the CBS/SONY logo at lower right. A vertical line of handling creases and small pressure wrinkles runs down the central area, visible under raking light. The verso shows overall age‑related toning and scattered foxing spots, plus an old stain near the upper right and some pencil/pen notation—typical patina for a 1970s Japanese poster that was actually displayed. Colours on the front remain rich and saturated, with the blues, oranges and flesh tones still very strong.
We have taken this honest, vintage condition into full account when pricing. This is a rare survivor of a poster that was never sold to the public and was intended only for promotional use—exactly the kind of piece serious collectors prize.
Please refer carefully to the imagery (both front and back) as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
It is over 49 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
