Paul Davis hails from different small towns in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Montana, but he became a city boy in the late 1950s, when he packed up and moved to New York. Davis studied at the School of Visual Arts, and also produced stencils on commission. His first published work was a pencil drawing for Playboy magazine, in the October 1959 issue. That led to more drawings, and Davis went on to work with the most prestigious publications in the country. He also created stylish posters for theaters, movies, and museums. An exhibition opening today at the Museo Magma, in Civitanova, Italy, presents 100 posters from an artist who changed the face of illustration. —Elena Clavarino

“I Manifesti di Paul Davis,” an exhibition on the work of Paul Davis, a contributing artist for AIR MAIL, is on through November 20

Elena Clavarino is an Associate Editor for AIR MAIL