Public Image Library

NYC Restaurant Ads, 1983-1998 is the first archival project by Nikki Igol's Public Image Library, published in collaboration with Blurring Books. Drawn from the Public Image Library's print archive, the book documents the evolution of the Manhattan dining scene, as presented in the advertising section of magazines such as Interview, Paper, and Details. This visual archive captures both the evolution of culinary discovery and graphic design as the finicky New York diner, always in search of the "it" spot, discovers the cuisines of the world and the neighborhoods of Manhattan. Restaurants are an ephemeral expression of culture; these advertisements document the ever-evolving New York taste.