Burton Morris Unveils 76th Academy Awards Poster

November 13, 2003
With the 76th Academy Awards commemorative poster, unveiled today in Hollywood, Oscar® looks forward to the flash and pop of strobes and sun guns when the red carpet returns on February 29, 2004.

Pop artist Burton Morris created this year’s poster, one of the most colorful and unusual Academy Award posters to date.

“When I think of the Academy Awards I think of the red carpet, the intense media attention and of course the Oscar statuette itself,” said Morris. “I wanted to incorporate all of these elements into the design in a way that captured that ‘larger than life’ feeling of the Oscars.”

Downsized in 2003 because of the war in Iraq, the Oscar's red carpet will be bigger and better than ever for the 76th Academy Awards presentation.

In the poster, Oscar stands tall through the bright light of a camera’s flash. A photographer looms large, sporting a retro look complete with suit, tie and fedora. The simplified lines and vibrant colors that are classic Morris fare create a visually arresting image.

“This is a poster unlike any we’ve used before,” said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Executive Director Bruce Davis. “It’s youthful and fun and it captures the excitement that surrounds the Academy Awards.”

Morris first gained national attention in the mid-1990's when his artwork was chosen to hang on the set of the NBC television series "Friends," where it has remained throughout the show's run. His artwork also has been on display in shows around the globe including a one-man exhibition at Sotheby's Amsterdam.

In addition, Morris was recently chosen by the United States Olympic Committee to be an official artist for the U.S. team at the 2004 Games in Athens.