May ‘68 in Posters: Art, Protest, and Ideas

From Oct 6, 2026 To Jan 28, 2027 From 5:00 PM To 8:00 PM Add to Calendar 2026-10-06 17:00:00 2027-01-28 20:00:00 May ‘68 in Posters: Art, Protest, and Ideas Discover the art and aspirations of May ’68 through original protest posters on view in our gallery. Curated by Emily Ternynck, this exhibition explores a movement that challenged authority and imagined a new society. The French Library, 53 Marlborough St, Boston, Massachusetts, United States America/New_York

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Discover the striking visual language of May 1968, when student protests and workers’ strikes transformed France. Featuring original protest posters, this exhibition explores the movement’s demands for freedom, solidarity, and social change, alongside its lasting influence on French intellectual and political life.

Created collectively at the Atelier Populaire, these posters brought art into the streets. Bold images and memorable slogans challenged authority, supported striking workers, and questioned the role of the media. Their urgency and inventiveness continue to resonate today.

Explore the stories behind the posters

Explanatory panels guide you through the exhibition, connecting the artworks to the events and ideas that inspired them. Discover how artists turned a printing workshop into a collective voice of protest, why students and workers sought common ground, and how the movement reshaped French intellectual and political life.

From sharp political satire to powerful calls for unity, each poster offers a window into a moment when a generation imagined a different society.

Curated by Emily Ternynck, a French-American independent curator and cultural programmer based in Somerville, Massachusetts.

On view October 6, 2026–January 28, 2027
Free admission during French Library opening hours.

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