McRay Magleby (b.1941),
Peace Wave, 1985, 1985, silk screen print, 33 5/8 x 19 1/2 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, 2012.
McRay Magleby is often considered one of the most influential American poster artists of the 20th century. A Utah native, he graduated from Brigham Young University in 1969, going on to teach at both the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Magleby is perhaps most well-known for his hundreds of BYU posters, often used as reminders for tuition deadlines or the opening of class registration. The artist was also commissioned for public works: his artwork was featured on American postage stamps throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Additionally, he created posters for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and has even designed a stained-glass window for the Provo City Library.
Peace Wave was designed in 1985 for an exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. Magleby was one of 125 American artists to contribute to this project.