Leo Lionni: Storyteller, Artist, Designer

by Steven Heller (editor), Leonard S. Marcus (Editor), Annie Lionni (Editor)

The first survey of Leo Lionni’s protean career as a graphic designer, children’s book creator, and fine artist Between The Art and Design of Leo Lionni opens at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, on November 18, 2023.

Leo Lionni (1910–1999) was a key figure of postwar visual culture, who believed that a smart, pithy design language could unite people across generations and cultural boundaries. He first achieved success in the field of graphic design, serving as the influential art director of Fortune magazine from 1948 to 1960 and personally executing such innovative designs as the catalogue for the Museum of Modern Art’s seminal photo exhibition The Family of Man . Then, in the 1960s, he embarked on an equally groundbreaking career in picture books, using torn-paper collages to illustrate modern animal fables such as Frederick and Swimmy , which are still beloved today. But even as his books won multiple Caldecott Honors, Lionni―who had begun as a painter―also maintained a fine art practice centered on his Parallel Botany , a richly imagined world of fanciful plants.

This volume, the catalogue of a major exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum, is the first to present Lionni’s extraordinary career in the round. Written by leading scholars and with an introduction by the artist’s granddaughter, it is illustrated with abundant examples of his work, including many little-seen items from the Lionni family archives. Leo Storyteller, Artist, Designer will be an important, and eye-opening, contribution to the history of art and design.

Genres: Art, Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens

184 pages, Hardcover

Published January 23, 2024

About the author

Steven Heller writes a monthly column on graphic design books for The New York Times Book Review and is co-chair of MFA Design at the School of Visual Arts. He has written more than 100 books on graphic design, illustration and political art, including Paul Rand, Merz to Emigre and Beyond: Avant Garde Magazine Design of the Twentieth Century, Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design Second Edition, Handwritten: Expressive Lettering in the Digital Age, Graphic Design History, Citizen Designer, Seymour Chwast: The Left Handed Designer, The Push Pin Graphic: Twenty Five Years of Design and Illustration, Stylepedia: A Guide to Graphic Design Mannerisms, Quirks, and Conceits, The Anatomy of Design: Uncovering the Influences and Inspirations in Modern Graphic Design. He edits VOICE: The AIGA Online Journal of Graphic Design, and writes for Baseline, Design Observer, Eye, Grafik, I.D., Metropolis, Print, and Step. Steven is the recipient of the Art Directors Club Special Educators Award, the AIGA Medal for Lifetime Achievement, and the School of Visual Arts' Masters Series Award.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just happened upon this book on the shelf at the library where I work and because I always loved Leo Lionni's picture books I picked it up. I didn't know much about Leo Lionni, but I after reading this book that was put out as a companion to an exhibit of his work at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, I know a lot more about Lionni. He lived in the Netherlands, United States, and Italy and spoke 5 languages. He had a very successful career in advertising and marketing in the United States and decided to move back to Italy to focus more on art for himself in his 50's. While trying to entertain his grandchildren on a train ride, he came up with the idea that became his first picture book, Little Blue and Little Yellow. After that he wrote and illustrated a picture book about every year, publishing 40 before his death at the age of 89. I found it really interesting that he wanted to keep his 3 art worlds separate. He was worried that he wouldn't be taken seriously as an artist if people knew he was publishing children's picture books. This book did a great job of showing all three aspects of Lionni's artwork and while I did like his midcentury modern advertising artwork, I still love his picture book artwork the most.

Some quotes I liked:

"In addition to designing memorable covers, typography, and interior layouts, he was instrumental in launching the careers of many emerging artists and designers, including the celebrated picture book artist Eric Carle, who considered him a mentor and lifelong friend." (p. 23)

"After decades of satisfying clients' and employers' demands, he longed to reclaim the sense of wonder that had made him fall in love with art as a child. Surprisingly, considering how it all turned out, making art for children was not, at the outset, on the menu of this new creative adventure; but the 'little miracle' changed that. From 1959 to 1994, Lionni published a new picture book nearly every year; in some years, he published two." (p. 91)

[In 1997] "Vivian G. Paley was a kindergarten teacher nearing retirement at the University of Chicago's progressive Laboratory Schools when it occurred to her to design and implement an immersive Leo Lionni curriculum for her final group of five-year-olds. Throughout their year of play and study together, Paley and the children not only shared Lionni's books in the traditional, story-hour way but also made drawings, painted posters, mounted plays, and composed new stories inspired by the books, and engaged in free-flowing, often surprisingly sophisticated discussions about the questions the books raised for them. Upon her retirement, Paley described all this in a memoir, The Girl with the Brown Crayon." (p. 124)

[Stephen G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first learned of Leo Lionni when I picked up one of his children's book in the NICU of a hospital after my daughter was born. His children's story, Frederick, about a mouse who brings hope to his nest amidst the dark days of winter moved me to tears during a dark season for me and my family. Years later, I saw this biography at my local library about the beloved children's author and it piqued my curiosity.

Leo Lionni: Storyteller, Artist, Designer is a biography of the multitalented graphic designer, children's illustrator, and fine artist Leo Lionni. The book contains beautiful pictures of Lionni's art and designs as the various editors tell his life's story in three parts, the three different chapters of his career as a creator.

The editors explain that Lionni refused to be boxed in by his own success. After an incredible early career as a magazine and advertising designer, Lionni accidentally later started an award-winning children's writing and illustrating career at the age of 49. It all started on a train ride with his grandkids. Without art supplies on hand, Lionni improvised using magazine cutouts while telling his grandkids a story on the train. The story eventually became his first children's book, "Little Blue and Little Yellow." He would go on to write over forty children's books in all.

But Lionni wasn't done creating and exploring new types of art. Later in life, he transitioned to creating pieces of fine art, keeping his former careers as magazine designer and children's illustrator a secret from art gallerists so he would be taken more seriously.

Lionni's multifaceted career included designing the first edition of Sports Illustrated, mentoring Eric Carle, commissioning work from Andy Warhol, and winning four Caldecot awards for his children's books.

I'm inspired by this biography of Lionni's life to not limit myself to one mode of creativity. If you're looking for a source of inspiration to start a new career, I'd recommend this book!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book about this versatile artist who brought his artistic talents to so many forms of art. I enjoyed reading this book with so many examples of his art on display plus his life story and journeys in the world. I always loved his children’s books.

[Cindy DavisClark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew his art from his children’s books including one of my great grandchildren’s favorites A Color of His Own. I did not know he did the layout of a favorite book The Family of Man