Maira Kalman

Early life

Born in Tel Aviv, Kalman came to New York City with her family at age 4. She attended the High School of Music & Art, now LaGuardia High School, where she studied Art.

Career

At age 18, Kalman met designer Tibor Kalman and in 1979, they founded the design company M&Co. The firm grew to be highly influential, creating work for Interview magazine, Restaurant Florent, the band Talking Heads, and The Museum of Modern Art.

Kalman published her first children's book in 1985, entitled Stay Up Late, which illustrated the lyrics of musician David Byrne. After Tibor's death in 1999, she began creatively asserting herself, writing more than 20 books over the years.

Kalman has written 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 Elements of Style, the popular guide to writing style, by William Strunk.

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. During 2009, Kalman wrote another illustrated blog in the New York Times called "And the Pursuit of Happiness" about American democracy. The blog was published as a book in 2010. The first chapter chronicles 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.

In 2010, Kalman illustrated Daniel Handler's picture book 13 Words.

In 2017, she was awarded the AIGA Medal for her work in "storytelling, illustration, and design while pushing the limits of all three."

Kalman is represented by the Julie Saul Gallery in New York City.

Personal life

Maira Kalman was married to designer Tibor Kalman until his death in 1999.

2017

Sara Berman's Closet, in collaboration with Alex Kalman, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY

2015

Sara Berman's Closet, Mmuseumm, New York City, NY

2014

The Elements of Style, The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN

Thomas Jefferson Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything, Monticello, Charlottesville, VA

Girls Standing on Lawns and Other Projects, Julie Saul Gallery, New York, NY

2013

What Pete Ate from A to Z, Madison Children’s Museum, Madison, WI

2012

37 Paintings, Julie Saul Gallery, New York, NY

2011

25 Years/25 Artists, Julie Saul Gallery, New York, NY

Storied City: New York in Picture Book Art, Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY

2010–2011

Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World), The Jewish Museum, New York, NY; Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA

Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA; Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

2010

Further Illuminations, Julie Saul Gallery, New York, NY

2009

The Principles of Uncertainty, Jackson Fine Art Gallery, Atlanta, GA

2009

The Elements of Style, Memorial Art Gallery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

The Principles of Uncertainty, Jackson Fine Art Gallery, Atlanta, GA

2008

Just Looking, Beihang University, Beijing, China

2007

The Principles of Uncertainty, Julie Saul Gallery, New York, NY

2005

I Can’t Stand All the Excitement, Julie Saul Gallery, New York, NY

2003

Just Looking, Julie Saul Gallery, New York, NY