US Open 2017 poster celebrates stadium anniversary

Last week, the United States Tennis Association announced that renowned artist Peter Max has created the 2017 US Open theme art, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Max was the artist for the US Open theme art back in 1997, featuring the stadium for the first time.

This year’s theme art showcases Max’s signature style and the dynamic artwork features two crossed tennis racquets against a fiery sky. According to Max, the intent was to suggest two crossed swords, depicting the fierce competition of the final Grand Slam of the year.

“We could not think of a better way to kick off the 20th anniversary of Arthur Ashe Stadium, than by ‘returning to source’ and having Peter Max create another signature work that truly captures the power of tennis’ grandest stadium,” said USTA Chairman of the Board and President Katrina Adams.

Twenty years ago, the US Open was transformed by the introduction of Arthur Ashe Stadium. In 2016, it added a retractable roof, banishing rain delays to the historical record and ensuring that the event’s loyal legion of supporters would continue to experience US Open tennis—regardless of the weather.

For six decades, Max’s art has been part of the fabric of American pop culture—from his numerous museum and gallery exhibitions to a painted fuselage of a Continental Airlines 777 super jet, a giant Moscow Music Peace Festival stage, a Woodstock ’97 Music Festival stage, a billboard flanking the U.S. Pavilion at the World’s Fair in Seville, Spain, the hull of a giant Norwegian Lines cruise ship and Dale Earnhardt’s NASCAR race car.