The Art of Dr. Suess Exhibition

Coming to Savannah for a Limited Engagement

Dr. Suess 1

For over 60 years, Dr. Seuss’s illustrations have brought a visual realization to his fantastic and imaginary worlds.

Dr. Suess 2However, his artistic talent went far beyond the printed page and yet, to this day, his Secret Art Collection is virtually unknown to the general public. Throughout his lifetime, Ted Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) created paintings and sculpture, which he secretly stashed away at the Dr. Seuss Estate.

A compelling selection of artworks from The Art of Dr. Seuss will be on display at Oglethorpe  Gallery from March 15 - 20, 2017. Visitors will view works from Dr. Seuss’s best-known children’s books, and explore The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss, a mind-expanding collection based on decades of artwork that Dr. Seuss created at night for his own personal pleasure. Perhaps the wackiest and most wonderful elements of the collection are his three-dimensional “Unorthodox Taxidermy” sculptures with names like The Carbonic Walrus, The Two-Horned Drouberhannis and the Goo-Goo-Eyed Tasmanian Wolghast, to name a few.

Ann Jackson Gallery is one of the few galleries authorized to represent The Art of Dr. Seuss Collection and they will be bringing their collection from Roswell, GA to Oglethorpe Gallery for a special exhibition of this artwork. Art of Dr. Seuss collection expert, Valerie Jackson, will join us for a special presentation during the opening event.

Dr. Seuss is currently best known as one of the most beloved and bestselling children’s authors of all time, having written and illustrated classics such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas! Ted Geisel was also a political cartoonist for PM magazine during World War II, as well as a contributing illustrator for Vanity Fair and Life. He enjoyed a long, successful advertising career, had writing interests in three Academy Awards, received The Pulitzer Prize, a Peabody Award, and two Emmys.

Dr. Suess 3His unique artistic vision emerged as the golden thread which linked every facet of his varied career, and his artwork became the platform from which he delivered 44 children’s books, over 400 World War II political cartoons, hundreds of advertisements, and countless editorials filled with wonderfully inventive animals, characters, and clever humor. He single-handedly forged a new genre of art that falls somewhere between the Surrealist Movement of the early 20th century and the inspired nonsense of a child’s classroom doodles.

Artworks from this historic collection have traveled to museums and galleries across three continents since its inception in 1997, with works from The Art of Dr. Seuss now hanging in collections alongside the likes of Picasso, Chagall, Warhol and other 20th century masters. Each of these estate-authorized, limited editions have been adapted and reproduced from Theodor Seuss Geisel’s original drawings, paintings, or sculptures. Additionally, each work bears a posthumously printed or engraved Dr. Seuss signature, identifying the work as an authorized limited edition commissioned by the Dr. Seuss Estate.

Ted Geisel (American, 1904-1991) asked his wife, Audrey, to wait until he was gone before bringing these works to the public. Secretly, he wanted to be recognized as a serious artist, but publicly, he was quick to describe his private works as “Midnight Paintings.” In her preface to the popular coffee table book on this collection, The Cat Behind the Hat, Audrey Geisel writes: “I’m gratified to carry out Ted’s wishes and have these works revealed to the world.”

Amazingly, despite the unprecedented demand during his lifetime, no limited edition artworks were ever conceived, authorized, or created until this historic project began in 1997, six years after Geisel’s death. That year, Audrey Geisel commissioned this exclusive project and put into motion a series of artworks and exhibitions that would carry out her promise to Ted, while firmly establishing him as one of the most iconic talents of the 20th century.

 

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