Tomi Ungerer

Tomi Ungerer was an artist and writer, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen medal in 1998, and in 2003 became the first Ambassador for Childhood and Education appointed by the Council of Europe. Born in Strasbourg, his wartime experiences as a child saw him develop into an adult greatly opposed to intolerance and injustice. This resulted in a lifetime of political activism, as well as a hugely successful career as an illustrator, cartoonist, storyteller and satirist. Well-known for a visually stunning, witty, as well as subversive style, he produced over 140 children’s books, and was equally lauded for his adult and political books and artwork. Lured by jazz and a freedom to experiment, he moved to New York in 1955, where he soon found a publisher and for over a decade mixed with artists such as Stanley Kubrick, Günter Grass, Philip Glass and Tom Wolfe. The political turbulence of late 1960s America prompted a move to Nova Scotia, and then to Ireland in 1976. He spent the rest of his life between West Cork and Strasbourg, influencing many of the illustrators, artists and writers who have emerged from Ireland over the last three decades.

‘In Memory of the Future’ is an exhibition running from 3 August to 30 September 2023 at dIr LexIcon. Over 50 artists will participate by sharing their interpretations of Ungerer’s work and responses to his influence. The show will run 3 August through 30 September at the dIr LexIcon and it is free to the public.

Illustrators Ireland is curating this celebration of Tomi Ungerer’s life and work with support from IBBY Ireland, Alliance Française, Centre Culturel Irlandais, the French Embassy in Ireland, the Tomi Ungerer Museum, and Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown County Council. We are grateful for the support of Aria and the Ungerer Family.