Saskatchewan Artist

Andrew King

Andrew King was born in Winnipeg in 1885 and moved to Rouleau, Saskatchewan in 1909 where he established the Rouleau Enterprise newspaper. In 1912 he developed a printing business as a sideline, and quickly became a major producer of posters for the niche market of show posters.

King’s wood block printed posters for rodeos, fairs and circuses used vibrant colours, bold designs and minimal text, and his company, Enterprise Show Print, quickly captured such clients as Wallace and Brothers Shows, Conklin and Garrett, Royal Canadian Shows, Odyson Circus, and Terrell Jacobs Circus.

In 1944 King moved to Estevan, Saskatchewan, and acquired the The Estevan Mercury newspaper while renaming his poster business King Show Print. In 1958 King sold his businesses, and King Show Print was disbanded.

King’s poster designs have been exhibited widely in Canada and beyond, including dedicated shows at the Dunlop Art Gallery (Regina) and University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon), and a permanent display of his work at Massey College Library, University of Toronto.

Andrew King died in Wilber, Nebraska in 1981.