Explore the Galaxy with Original Space Travel Art
We are in the middle of that period of humanity where all of us alive today were born after the Age of Discovery when humans were focused on exploring the Earth. However, we're also all living well before the true Space Age, a time in the future when humans will inevitably set their sights on the stars and finally figure out how to reach them.
Nevertheless, we can dream, right? If you've ever turned your face to the night sky and stared at the constellations above with a certain amount of whimsy, the Space Travel poster art collection is for you.
To be fair, for a while there, it felt like the Space Age was upon us, (and given the incredible work they're doing, the folks at NASA would say we're technically still in the Space Age, we just need to be patient as we wait for the next big breakthrough in space travel).
But in the 1900s, space travel seemed to be within our grasp as astronauts from the U.S. and other nations soared above the atmosphere and into the great beyond, even reaching the moon.
The Dawn of a New Age in the Arts
During the 20th century, science and imagination collided with dreams of new family vacations that would take place off-planet. A whole futuristic industry was born as the United States, the Soviet Union, and other nations truly did reach for the stars, and, in many ways, were successful.
Inspired by fantastic pulp fiction novels, comic books, popular science magazines, and even text books, many artists launched a whole new era of poster art and original illustration styles that depicted space travel as it was at the time and as it could be in the future.
Our Space Travel Art Collection celebrates the optimism, adventure, and style of the Nuclear Age, the Atomic Age, and the years that led up to the actual Space Age when humankind reached the moon. Perfect for decorating kids rooms, man caves, and mod pads, this series of designs is Out Of This World!
Featuring over 70 original space travel illustrations and space posters, the Space Travel collection is the perfect way to get children interested in the sciences as these original outer space illustrations serve as excellent decor for playrooms, bedrooms, and living rooms. The art is also both whimsical and realistic, in that some of our original space travel illustrations celebrate the actual accomplishments of humanity in terms of space travel, while other designs are more fictional and whimsical.
What Made the Space Age Art Unique?
Futuristic, optimistic, even utopian, the space age art was a celebration of what could be, original art and illustrations created during the 20th century when every year it seemed humankind made yet another stunning scientific and astronomical breakthrough.
Many elements were woven into space age art. Scientific advancements, the pop culture of the time, and the Cold War’s influence on the space race and the sense of competition occurring between the United States and the Soviet Union were just a few.
To us, some of the key signifying details of space age art are as follows:
Optimism. The Space Age was a period of several decades in the mid-20th century when it felt like humanity was on the brink of entering, as any Star Trek fan will eagerly tell you, the Final Frontier.
Progress. Along with the New Deal's progress in pulling America out of the Great Depression, and then the victory in World War II that followed immediately after, and then the post-war industrial and economic boom to top it all off, it felt like the race for the stars was simply a natural part of the immense, multi-faceted progress occurring down on land in the United States.
Duality. One of the incredible features of Space Age art is the duality of the artwork, in the sense that the art was able to convey the incredible seriousness of the Atomic and Nuclear Ages. The duality was that these ages brought with them incredible potential advancements thanks to nuclear energy, but also the devastating prospect of human annihilation as a result of the ever-present threat of nuclear war.
Modernity. The space travel art from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s was ever-optimistic, too, as it tried to embody a sense of modernity and humanity’s ever-present desire to improve and advance.
A Few Favorite Space Travel Designs
Our original space travel art and Space Age poster art has over 70 designs, but here are half-a-dozen of our favorites:
70's Style: Blast Off to Outer Space. This original poster art and travel art celebrates the optimism, adventure, and style of the Nuclear Age and the years that led up to the actual Space Age, all rendered in a vintage poster art style fitting of the time. Perfect for decorating kids rooms, man caves, and mod pads, this original design is Out Of This World! This retro-styled interstellar illustration will look great as an art print, notecard, postcard, metal sign, canvas, or mini canvas.
Black Hole: An Irresistible Attraction. One does not simply make art of space without rendering a few original illustrations of black holes! Also, what happens in a black hole stays in a black hole, because we get it, they’re irresistibly attractive! Celebrating the artistic renditions and vintage poster art and retro designs of space travel from the early and mid-20th century, Anderson Design Group poster artists created this original illustration of what we think flirting with a black hole in space might look like.
Earth: From The Grand Orbital Highway. Road trip? How about a space trip? Or at least space art to celebrate the whimsy and hope that one day we'll be able to take such trips? Celebrating the vintage art and designs of space travel from the early and mid-20th century, Anderson Design Group poster artists created this original illustration of what we think a space road trip might look like. The perfect addition to your home or office decor, this hand-rendered design will look great as an art print, poster, notecard, postcard, metal sign, canvas, or mini canvas. Choose from multiple size options, frame designs, and more!
NASA: 1998 International Space Station. Some of the best aspects of space travel, space art, and space travel illustrations is that we can make art that combines the whimsy of space travel with actual human accomplishments in the field. And here, too, humanity can truly come together. Case in point, a great example of peaceful cooperation among nations is the International Space Station. Designed between 1984 and 1993, elements of the station were in construction throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Europe beginning in the late 1980s. The International Space Station Program brings together international flight crews, multiple launch vehicles, globally distributed launch and flight operations, training, engineering, and development facilities, communications networks, and the international scientific research community.
SpaceX Starship. Space travel has come a long way since the mid-20th century, and the SpaceX Starship is an excellent example of that progress. As of June 2024, it is the most massive and most powerful vehicle ever to fly! Starship is intended to lower launch costs significantly via economies of scale. This is achieved by reusing both rocket stages, increasing payload mass to orbit, increasing launch frequency, creating a mass-manufacturing pipeline, and adapting it to a wide range of space missions.
NASA 1969: First Man On The Moon. Of course, space art and galactic travel art is not complete without a rendition of humanity's greatest accomplishment in the field yet, the moon landing. A truly unforgettable moment in human history, Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin formed the American crew that landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC.
Space Travel Art Products
In addition to creating original space travel art, we've also crafted fun and engaging art-styled space toys and games, perfect for getting the young and young-at-heart interested in outer space. These products include:
Space Travel Postcards. Featuring the fantasy art by Anderson Design Group's award-winning artists, this collector's postcard set is perfect for every space travel fan. These colorful cards are printed on gallery-grade paper, and they feature informative text on the backside about the history behind each outer space destination. Individual postcards measure 4.25" x 6".
Space Travel Puzzle. Created by the talented artists of Anderson Design Group in partnership with our friends at Tourist Courts, this puzzle is beautiful, top-quality, made in the USA, and fun for all puzzlers. Each finished puzzle measures 18" x 24". Recommended for ages 10 and up!
Space Travel Playing Cards. Featuring 54 of our classic original Space Travel illustrations, this regulation deck of playing cards is a great gift idea for anyone who loves outer space and space exploration. This beautiful pack of cards is a standard 2.5" wide by 3.5" tall. It makes an out-of-this-world gift item!
Here's to a New Age of Exploration
Art of space travel is exciting, inspiring, and hopeful, as we never really know what humanity will achieve next.
Here's hoping the next great adventure for humankind, one that will maybe, just maybe, occur within our lifetimes, is to finally travel among the stars.
-Ren Brabenec
Anderson Design Group Staff Writer
← Older Post Newer Post →