Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World)

Peter Barberie speaks about Sunny Day at the Park:

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The artist’s late husband and founder of the radical design firm M&Co (note the onion ring, one of a collection represented by examples on view in this show, along with M&Co objects and ephemera that the Kalmans collaborated on).

Michael Bierut speaks about Tibor Kalman:

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The style of Kalman’s work exudes a sense of lightness, joy, and charm. Righteous for cake, this style can be disarming when the subject is serious or tragic (the Blitz, 9/11). But this is exactly the point! Keeping things light—in light of the sadness, loss, and strong emotion that are always present in her work—is what dis¬tractions are for. In Kalman’s world, humor and a keen sense of the absurd are instrumental!

Stamatina Gregory speaks about 2 Million People:

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The December 10, 2001, New Yorker featured Kalman’s most recognized image on the cover, made in collaboration with Rick Meyerowitz. This is a preliminary sketch.

Writing and drawing play equal roles in the work of Kalman, who is an author, illus¬trator, and designer. This show focuses on the pictorial part of her art by presenting original works on paper for the illustrations that have made her one of today’s most idiosyncratic and revered creative artists. That said, Kalman is less recognized by name than by her images (not unusual in the world of illustration and design).

Maira Kalman and Rick Meyerowitz speak about New Yorkistan:

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Maira Kalman’s art is a discipline of daily creativity. Taking photos, collecting objects and arranging them, writing in notebooks, drawing in journals, painting pictures, making lists—these are all relatively intimate and ordinary activities. As encompassed by her work, however, they amount to a singular form of expression, one in which personal memory, cultural reference, and storytelling combine into an illuminative account of contemporary life.

Isaac Mizrahi speaks about Self-Portrait (Favorite Jacket):

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Sentence Fragment is from Kalman’s illustrated edition of William Strunk, Jr., and E. B. White’s timeless grammar guide, The Elements of Style.

Nico Muhly speaks about Sentence Fragment:

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Ruth Reichl speaks about Herring & Philosophy Club:

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Kalman’s book The Principles of Uncertainty featured this emblematic image on the cover.

David Shipley speaks about Man Dances on Salt

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Max Stravinksy is the dog poet and star of a series of Kalman’s books.

Kalman’s work appeared on the cover of The New Yorker for the first time in the December 4, 1995, issue.

Kalman is seen as a child with her mother (left) in Tel Aviv.

Long an admirer of Lincoln, Kalman is a contributor to the Rosenbach Museum and Library’s online project “21st Century Abe.”

People, places, dogs, dreams, objects, food . . . Maira Kalman’s narrative art comes from her everyday observation of ordinary things (show¬ing them to be extraordinary) and profound events (showing them to be simply part of life).

Panache is from Kalman’s most recent children’s book, 13 Words, with text by Lemony Snicket (fashion hounds: note the Schiaparelli Shoe Hat).