Roz Chast is internationally recognized as a pioneer of a new type of cartoon
making which emerged in the 1970s, when she became a regular contributor to
the New Yorker Magazine. Since then, nine collections have been published
of Chast's work, most recently Theories of Everything, a twenty five
year survey . Roz Chast is known for her cast of recurring characters- generally
hapless but relatively cheerful "everyfolk". In her cartoons, she addresses
the issues of our time: guilt, anxiety, aging, families, friends, money, real
estate, and as she would say, "much, much more!" The editor of The New
Yorker, David Remnick, has called her "the magazine's only certifiable
genius."
Chast grew up in Brooklyn, where her parents (a high school teacher and an assistant principal) still live. She received a BFA in 1977 from Rhode Island School of Design with studies in graphic design and painting, but returned to the cartooning which she had begun in high school. Less than two years out of college, she was added to the forty or so artists under contract to The New Yorker in January 1979. The New Yorker has continually published her work for 25 years, from black and white cartoons to color spreads, back pages and covers. In addition she has provided cartoons and editorial illustrations for almost fifty magazines and journals- from Mother Jones to Town & Country. She has illustrated several children's books and contributed to many humor collections, lectured widely and received several prestigious awards including an honorary doctorate from Pratt Institute in 1998. Chast has exhibited in numerous group and solo shows. Roz Chast lives in Connecticut with her family and several parrots.
Chast grew up in Brooklyn, where her parents (a high school teacher and an assistant principal) still live. She received a BFA in 1977 from Rhode Island School of Design with studies in graphic design and painting, but returned to the cartooning which she had begun in high school. Less than two years out of college, she was added to the forty or so artists under contract to The New Yorker in January 1979. The New Yorker has continually published her work for 25 years, from black and white cartoons to color spreads, back pages and covers. In addition she has provided cartoons and editorial illustrations for almost fifty magazines and journals- from Mother Jones to Town & Country. She has illustrated several children's books and contributed to many humor collections, lectured widely and received several prestigious awards including an honorary doctorate from Pratt Institute in 1998. Chast has exhibited in numerous group and solo shows. Roz Chast lives in Connecticut with her family and several parrots.
Theories of Everything 1978-2006 [view
images]
Survey 1993-2003 [view
images]