"In the year 8113 A.D., the most remembered cartoonist of our time may not be any of our currently revered comics creators. Not Winsor McCay, George Herriman, Jack Kirby, Robert Crumb, Art Spiegelman, or Chris Ware. As incredible as it may seem, long after the last comic books of our time have crumpled into dust, the cartoonist of our era that People of The Future will dig (perhaps literally) could be a guy named George Carlson — an under-appreciated, largely overlooked cartoonist, illustrator, game designer, and graphic artist extraordinaire."
- Paul Tumey in "Figuring Out George Carlson"
Jack Hanley Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of drawings and archival material by illustrator, cartoonist, and graphic artist George Carlson (1887-1962). Combining a talent for puns and witticisms with drawing finesse, Carlson created a wide output of illustrations that were both visually captivating and clever. His subjects range from comics and classic fairy tales to riddles and games, and appeared in newspapers, on book jackets, as advertisements, and in text books. The fantastic, surreal, and expressive worlds Carlson invented throughout his prolific career reveal a rare imagination that continues to influence artists and enchant readers. This exhibition brings together a collection of original drawings and ephemera, including "how-to" drawing guides, children's books, joke and riddle books, crossword puzzles, and other printed matter.