Ian Falconer

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Ian Falconer (1959-2023) was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut. In his youth he attended Long Ridge School in Stamford and the Cambridge School of Weston in Massachusetts, where his creative passions flourished. He pursued higher education at New York University, studying Art History before enrolling at the Parsons School of Design as a painter, and finally transferring to the Otis Art Institute. While studying in Los Angeles, Falconer began his artistic career as a theatrical set and costume designer. He worked closely assisting David Hockney with Opera before pursuing projects with the New York City Ballet, and Boston Ballet, as well as other theater companies across the US. Accompanying his success as an author and illustrator, he still continued to design sets and costumes.

Falconer moved to New York City and debuted his illustration career with the July 8th, 1996 cover of The New Yorker. That same year, he created Olivia, as a Christmas present for his niece, which was then published by Simon and Schuster in 2000. Falconer went on to illustrate more than 30 covers for the New Yorker, and other publications, and Olivia went on to win several awards including the Caldecott Honor, was on The New York Times Bestseller list for the year of 2000, and sold over ten million copies. The love for Olivia inspired Falconer to write ten sequels to the book throughout his lifetime, and pursue other children’s books such as his most recent book: Two Dogs, which the New York Times states that it “brilliantly displays his theatrical experience as a stage designer in this delightful tour de force about twin dachshunds who escape outside together when their humans leave them alone.”

 

 

Check back next week for a complete selection of Ian’s Falconer’s amazing artwork—available here for the first time!  Or come join us Sunday November 3rd 4 to 6 at the opening reception of our 35th Annual Illustration Celebration and get an advance look at these incredible works of art.