Nonny Hogrogian

Nonny Hogrogian 1932-2024 It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Nonny Hogrogian’s passing on May 9, 2024. Nonny Hogrogian was born in New York City in 1932. Her childhood was immersed in creativity and culture through her Armenian parents, and grandparents. She took inspiration from her family of painters and craftsmen, and attended illustration programs at Pratt Institute. In 1953, Nonny Hogrogian received her B.A in Fine Arts from Hunter College. Hogrogian illustrated her first book in 1960, King of the Kerry Fair. Soon after, she was awarded the coveted Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1966 for her artwork in Always Room for One More and again in 1972 for One Fine Day, which was inspired by the Armenian folktales that were read to her as a child. Hogrogian married the poet and Newbery Honor awardee David Kherdian in 1971 and the couple went on to publish several books together. Accompanying her prolific artistic career, she was an excellent cook, and even illustrated a cookbook written by her sister, Rachel Hogrogian entitled, The Armenian Cookbook. R. Michelson Galleries was honored to represent Nonny’s original artwork.

On a personal note, I consider myself fortunate to have called Nonny and David my friends. Anyone who knew them had a front row seat to one of the great love stories of our time. Once they found each other they were never apart, and David’s 1974 collection, The Nonny Poems is a tour de force, full of life and love. Up until the day she died, David continued to write poems about Nonny which were full of gratitude and grace. Nonny will be remembered through her art, her books, her cooking (which I was lucky to sample of many occasions), and her kindness.

– Richard Michelson