Gahan Wilson
American, 1930 - 2019
Gahan Allen Wilson (February 18, 1930 – November 21, 2019) was an American cartoonist, illustrator, author, and novelist renowned for his darkly humorous and macabre single-panel cartoons. His grotesque, surreal style—often featuring monsters, aliens, and absurd scenarios—made him a defining voice in publications such as *Playboy*, *The New Yorker*, *Collier’s*, and *National Lampoon* over nearly five decades.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Wilson studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before embarking on a prolific career in New York. His work earned him critical acclaim, including multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the World Fantasy Awards and the National Cartoonists Society’s Milton Caniff award. In 1975, he also designed the original H. P. Lovecraft bust trophy for the World Fantasy Convention.
Wilson authored and illustrated numerous books and stories, including *Nuts*, *I Paint What I See*, *The Cleft*, and *Everybody’s Favorite Duck*, and his distinctive cover art graced works by Neil Gaiman and Roger Zelazny. He was also the subject of the documentary *Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird*, directed by Steven-Charles Jaffe.
Wilson continued publishing and influencing art and illustration until his later years, before passing away in 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona from complications of dementia. His legacy endures through his iconic blend of horror, humor, and imaginative vision.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Wilson studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before embarking on a prolific career in New York. His work earned him critical acclaim, including multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the World Fantasy Awards and the National Cartoonists Society’s Milton Caniff award. In 1975, he also designed the original H. P. Lovecraft bust trophy for the World Fantasy Convention.
Wilson authored and illustrated numerous books and stories, including *Nuts*, *I Paint What I See*, *The Cleft*, and *Everybody’s Favorite Duck*, and his distinctive cover art graced works by Neil Gaiman and Roger Zelazny. He was also the subject of the documentary *Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird*, directed by Steven-Charles Jaffe.
Wilson continued publishing and influencing art and illustration until his later years, before passing away in 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona from complications of dementia. His legacy endures through his iconic blend of horror, humor, and imaginative vision.
new
Gahan Wilson
"Still, You Gotta Admit Crime is Down" - New Yorker Cartoon
H 10 in W 7 in
$ 15,000
Access Trade Price
new
Gahan Wilson
House Arrest - Conceptual Art for The New Yorker
H 9 in W 10 in
$ 7,000
Access Trade Price
new
Gahan Wilson
How About a Little More Coffee, New Yorker Cartoon
H 8 in W 9 in
$ 7,000
Access Trade Price
Loading...
