Ian Falconer
Encyclopedia
Ian Woodwark Falconer is an American
illustrator, children's book author, and costume and set designer for the theater. He has created 30 covers for The New Yorker
as well as other publications. Falconer is best known for the Olivia series, which features a young pig and her many adventures, which was inspired by the birth of his first niece and his desire to give her a special "first" present. Born in Ridgefield, Connecticut
, Mr. Falconer, who graduated from The Cambridge School of Weston
, studied art history at New York University
and painting at Parsons School of Design
and Otis Art Institute
.
For the New York City Ballet, Mr. Falconer has designed scenery and costumes for Scènes de Ballet (1999), and Variations Sérieuses (2001), both choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. In 1999, he designed scenery and costumes for Boston Ballet's production of Firebird, also choreographed by Mr. Wheeldon. In 2003, Falconer designed sets and costumes for Stravinsky's Jeu de Cartes, choreographed by Peter Martins.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
illustrator, children's book author, and costume and set designer for the theater. He has created 30 covers for The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
as well as other publications. Falconer is best known for the Olivia series, which features a young pig and her many adventures, which was inspired by the birth of his first niece and his desire to give her a special "first" present. Born in Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Situated in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the 300-year-old community had a population of 24,638 at the 2010 census. The town center, which was formerly a borough, is defined by the U.S...
, Mr. Falconer, who graduated from The Cambridge School of Weston
The Cambridge School of Weston
The Cambridge School of Weston, also known as CSW, is a private, coeducational high school in Weston, Massachusetts. Currently the school has approximately 330 students, 25% of whom are boarding. The Head of School is Jane Moulding...
, studied art history at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and painting at Parsons School of Design
Parsons The New School for Design
Parsons The New School For Design, known colloquially as Parsons, is the art and design college of The New School university. It is located in New York City's Greenwich Village, and has produced artists and designers such as Marc Jacobs, Dean and Dan Caten, Norman Rockwell, Donna Karan, Jane...
and Otis Art Institute
Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design is an art and design college in Los Angeles, California.The school's programs, accredited by WASC and National Association of Schools of Art and Design, include four-year BFA degrees in illustration, fine arts, graphic design, architecture, landscape design, interior...
.
Children's books
In the Olivia series:- Olivia, 2000 - winner of 2001 Caldecott HonorCaldecott MedalThe Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
- Olivia Saves the Circus, 2001 - 2002 Booksense Illustrated Children's Book of the Year
- Olivia's Opposites, 2002
- Olivia Counts, 2002
- Olivia...and the Missing Toy, 2003
- Teatro Olivia, 2004
- Olivia Forms a Band, 2006 - 2006 Child Magazine's Best Children's Book Award
- Dream Big (starring Olivia), 2006
- Olivia Helps with Christmas, 2007 - 2008 Falconer won the Illustrator of the Year in the Children's Choice Book Awards for this title
- Olivia Goes to Venice, 2010
Awards
- Caldecott Honor for Olivia, 2000
- Parent's Choice 2000, Gold Award Winner
- Nick Jr. Best Book of 2001
- ALA Notable Children's Books 2000 & 2001
- Child's Best Book of 2001
- Los Angeles Times Best Books of 2000 & 2001
- Publishers Weekly, Best Books of 2000 & 2001
- BookSense Illustrated Children's Book of the Year for Olivia Saves the Circus, 2002
- Voted "Favorite Illustrator" for Olivia Helps with Christmas by over 50,000 children at the Children's Choice Book Awards, 2008
Theater Designs
Ian Falconer is very active in the world of theater design. He teamed up with artist David Hockney and together they collaborated on the costume designs for the Los Angeles Opera production of Tristan and Isolde (1987); he served as co-designer (sets and costumes) with Mr. Hockney on the Lyric Opera's production of Turandot (1992); and designed the costumes for The Royal Opera's production of Die Frau Ohne Schatten at Covent Garden. In 1996, Mr. Falconer designed the sets for The Atlantic Theater's production of The Santaland Diaries, written by David Sedaris. In January 2008, Mr. Falconer completed the set design and oversaw the installation for the operetta 'Veronique' at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. The sets were widely hailed for their use of classic stage sets married with complex moving film images that impressed audiences with innovative theatrical optical illusions.For the New York City Ballet, Mr. Falconer has designed scenery and costumes for Scènes de Ballet (1999), and Variations Sérieuses (2001), both choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. In 1999, he designed scenery and costumes for Boston Ballet's production of Firebird, also choreographed by Mr. Wheeldon. In 2003, Falconer designed sets and costumes for Stravinsky's Jeu de Cartes, choreographed by Peter Martins.