Maira Kalman
Encyclopedia
Maira Kalman, born in 1949, is an American illustrator, author, artist, and designer. Born in Tel Aviv
, Kalman came to New York City
with her family at age 4. She attended the High School of Music and Art, now LaGuardia High School.
Ms. Kalman has authored a series of children's books about Max Stravinsky, the poet-dog. She has done covers for The New Yorker
, including one she did with Rick Meyerowitz
called New Yorkistan. She created the sets for the Mark Morris Dance Group production of Four Saints in Three Acts
, an opera by Virgil Thompson
and Gertrude Stein
.
Kalman is also known for her illustrations for the 2005 edition of the popular guide to writing style, The Elements of Style
, by William Strunk and E.B. White.
Maira Kalman was married to the designer Tibor Kalman
until his death in 1999. Together, the two ran the design company M&Co. The company remains successful today.
Ms. Kalman wrote the monthly illustrated blog The Principles of Uncertainty for The New York Times for one year, ending in April 2007. The blog was published in a book of the same title, which was released in 2007 to critical acclaim. Kalman started a new illustrated blog in the New York Times called "And the Pursuit of Happiness" about American democracy on January 30, 2009. The first entry chronicled her visit to Washington, D.C.
for President Barack Obama
's inauguration. Kalman's work is also featured on Rosenbach Museum and Library's 21st Century Abe project.
Kalman is represented by the Julie Saul Gallery in New York City.
More recently she illustrated Daniel Handler
's picture book 13 Words.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Kalman came to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with her family at age 4. She attended the High School of Music and Art, now LaGuardia High School.
Ms. Kalman has authored a series of children's books about Max Stravinsky, the poet-dog. She has done 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...
, including one she did with Rick Meyerowitz
Rick Meyerowitz
Rick Meyerowitz is an American artist. He started drawing during his childhood and attended art school at Boston University...
called New Yorkistan. She created the sets for the Mark Morris Dance Group production of Four Saints in Three Acts
Four Saints in Three Acts
Four Saints in Three Acts is an opera by American composer Virgil Thomson with a libretto by Gertrude Stein. Written in 1927-8, it contains about 20 saints, and is in at least four acts...
, an opera by Virgil Thompson
Virgil Thompson
Virgil Thompson is an American author. Her first published novel was the 2002 crime drama Final Things: A Novel of Suspense. She lives in Connecticut.-Bibliography:...
and Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein was an American writer, poet and art collector who spent most of her life in France.-Early life:...
.
Kalman is also known for her illustrations for the 2005 edition of the popular guide to writing style, The Elements of Style
The Elements of Style
The Elements of Style , also known as Strunk & White, by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White, is a prescriptive American English writing style guide comprising eight "elementary rules of usage", ten "elementary principles of composition", "a few matters of form", a list of forty-nine "words and...
, by William Strunk and E.B. White.
Maira Kalman was married to the designer Tibor Kalman
Tibor Kalman
Tibor Kalman was an influential American graphic designer of Hungarian origin, well-known for his work as editor-in-chief of Colors magazine....
until his death in 1999. Together, the two ran the design company M&Co. The company remains successful today.
Ms. Kalman wrote the monthly illustrated blog The Principles of Uncertainty for The New York Times for one year, ending in April 2007. The blog was published in a book of the same title, which was released in 2007 to critical acclaim. Kalman started a new illustrated blog in the New York Times called "And the Pursuit of Happiness" about American democracy on January 30, 2009. The first entry chronicled her visit to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
for President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's inauguration. Kalman's work is also featured on Rosenbach Museum and Library's 21st Century Abe project.
Kalman is represented by the Julie Saul Gallery in New York City.
More recently she illustrated Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler is an American author, screenwriter and accordionist. He is best known for his work under the pen name Lemony Snicket.-Personal life:...
's picture book 13 Words.
External links
- Maira Kalman in conversation with Paul Holdengraber at LIVE from the New York Public Library October 23, 2007
- Maira Kalman's Image Gallery
- Interview with Maira Kalman in Nashville Review
- Ms. Kalman's webpage
- Ms. Kalman's biography
- TED Talks: Maira Kalman, the illustrated woman at TEDTED (conference)TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
in 2007 - Ahora: Interview with Maira Kalman
- "Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World)" Exhibition (2011) at The Jewish Museum New York.