Art Paul (Arthur Paul) – American graphic designer and founding art director of Playboy

Style and contributions

Paul favored bold typography, thoughtful page composition and the use of illustration as a narrative device rather than mere decoration. Under his direction, covers and feature spreads balanced wit, sophistication and economy of form. He played a major role in making the magazine visually adventurous, commissioning original work and experimenting with the relationship between image and text. The magazine's signature imagery and graphic tone—playful yet refined—owe much to his leadership.

Notable collaborations

One of Paul’s defining practices was inviting painters and illustrators outside conventional commercial circles to contribute. Artists associated with the magazine during his tenure include Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí and James Rosenquist. By commissioning figures from the fine arts, Paul broadened the range of styles readers encountered and helped blur the line between editorial illustration and contemporary art.

Biography and context

Paul was born on Chicago’s South Side and raised in the Rogers Park neighborhood, part of the city's diverse cultural landscape. As art director he worked at the magazine for some three decades, guiding its visual evolution as it grew from a new publication into a major cultural presence. He remained associated with Chicago throughout his life, and many commentators note how his Midwestern roots informed a practical, design-forward sensibility.

Death and legacy

Art Paul died on April 28, 2018, in Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood from complications of pneumonia. He was 93. His passing prompted renewed interest in the role of editors and art directors in shaping postwar American magazines, as well as reassessments of how commercial publications introduced avant-garde art to broader audiences.

Why he matters

Paul’s work is often cited in discussions of magazine design and the professionalization of illustration. By commissioning prominent and experimental artists, promoting disciplined page design, and helping forge a consistent brand image, he influenced generations of designers. For more about the city and contexts connected to his life, see links to Chicago's South Side, general Chicago and Illinois, as well as the neighborhood of Rogers Park and Lake View.

• Role: Founding art director, editorial and magazine design.
• Period: Active primarily in mid-20th century; roughly three decades at one leading magazine.
• Impact: Elevated illustration, bridged commercial design and contemporary art.