Flights of Genius by Stephen Powers

In celebration of the 100th birthday of advertising icon David Ogilvy, Ogilvy & Mather New York partnered with Joshua Liner Gallery to commission a large-scale mural installation by artist Stephen Powers. Spanning the North stairwell of the agency’s Manhattan headquarters from the first to the 11th floor, the murals reimagined Ogilvy’s most memorable quotes through Powers’ signature graphic language, infusing the space with bold color, vintage-inspired typography, and a renewed sense of inspiration.

Curated by Joshua Liner and Jun Lee, the project offered a fresh visual tribute to Ogilvy’s enduring legacy in modern advertising.

Large yellow sign on wall reading 'Big ideas are usually simple ones' near staircase in building.
Two men standing outdoors on a rooftop with trees and city buildings in the background; one man is smiling, wearing a checkered shirt, and the other man making a peace sign, wearing a bright yellow polo shirt.
Wall with large black letters spelling 'TOLERATE GENIUS' in an industrial-style room with red pipes and yellow safety tape.
Sign with large black and red letters reading 'TOLERATE GENIUS' on a white background.
Two individuals wearing masks and yellow gloves painting a mural with blue and green shapes on a wall inside a room.
Colorful sign with the quote 'Be Candid and Encourage Candor' in red, green, blue, brown, and orange letters on a light yellow background.
Large wall sign reading 'DON'T UNDER SPEND' with a yellow background on the top half and a light green background on the bottom half. To the right, there is a red pipe with a valve and a label that says 'inspection drain valve'.
Sign with the words, 'Set High Standards,' in colorful text.
Fire safety poster with text 'When Selling Open Fire With' and images of a fire extinguisher and flame.

Artist Stephen Powers brings the words of David Ogilvy to life in this dynamic mural project, transforming the stairwell of Ogilvy & Mather’s New York headquarters into a vertical gallery of ideas. Using his distinctive visual style, Powers reinterprets classic Ogilvy quotes with energy and wit inviting viewers to reflect, smile, and climb with purpose.