Thursday, October 10, 2024
Media Contact:
Casey Ihde | OSU Museum of Art Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2783 | mailto:casey.pankey@okstate.edu
‘Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing’ takes the viewer on a visual adventure through
the culture-shifting and fearless life of one of the most influential artists of our time
The Oklahoma State University Museum of Art will deliver a masterclass in illustration
with “Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing,” on view Jan. 21-May 10, 2025.
The national touring exhibition spans more than 60 years of the artist’s life and
artwork. It showcases his legendary collaborations with maverick Gonzo journalist
Hunter S. Thompson, his illustrated literary classics such as Lewis Carroll’s “Alice
in Wonderland” and Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” the inventive books
he authored such as “I, Leonardo” and “The Big I Am” and so much more.
This remarkable exhibition showcases Steadman’s ongoing evolution. It features a selection
of 149 original artworks as well as ephemera, including Steadman’s sketchbooks, children’s
books, magazines, personal photographs and handwritten notes that tell a fuller story
of how the artworks were born. From Steadman’s early years as a student to his political
illustrations, social commentary and activism, this exhibition surveys Steadman’s
nonstop creative passion and collaborations.
“Bringing the works of Ralph Steadman to the campus is a rare opportunity for students
and the larger community to interact with the oeuvre of a living, working artist,”
said Liz Roth, interim director of the OSU Museum of Art. “This retrospective is comprehensive
in its scope and ability to speak to visitors of all interests.”
Beautiful works from “The Gonzovation Trilogy,” his collaboration with documentarian
and filmmaker Ceri Levy about extinct and endangered birds and animals, sit alongside
his more experimental collections such as “Paranoids,” caricatures of notable figures
from history, entertainment and politics that Steadman created by reworking Polaroid
photographs.
“‘And Another Thing’ allows us to engage audiences with an exhibition that shows Steadman’s
artistic evolution from his roots to the artist who continues to flourish, innovate
and be in demand at 88 years old with interest from brands such as Nike, Harley-Davidson
and Supreme, with whom he collaborated in the last three years.” said Sadie Williams,
director of the Ralph Steadman Art Collection.
As one of the most influential illustrators and comic artists of the last six decades,
Steadman is famous for his long collaboration with journalist and author Hunter S.
Thompson, notably illustrating “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Through their storytelling,
in which the topic becomes almost secondary to the personality of the artists and
work, “Gonzo” journalism was born. The new way of covering news, named by Boston Globe
journalist Bill Cardoso, is prominent in today’s online news sources, editorial pieces,
social media, videos, political punditry and podcasts. While “And Another Thing” pays
tribute to Thompson and Steadman’s future-defining meeting, the exhibition leads viewers
on a journey that is much more than a Gonzo exploration.
“Steadman is well known for his direct and visceral drawing style and for changing
and amplifying the face of satire through his illustrations,” said Andrea Lee Harris,
the exhibition co-curator. “His art challenges us, teaches us and alters how we see
the world. Showcasing Steadman’s genius, skill and imagination, the exhibition offers
viewers a glimpse into the artist’s creative force. He has given us all a great gift
and raised the bar for the generations following in his footsteps. Steadman’s inspired
exhibition will delight diehard fans and uninitiated audiences eager to learn more.”
The exhibition spotlights both the artist’s spontaneity and his intense devotion to
his craft. “I do not do roughs and I go straight in with ink. I just start drawing
and things emerge from the approach,” said Steadman. “People ask, ‘aren’t you worried
about making a mistake?’ I reply ‘there is no such thing as a mistake. A mistake is
an opportunity to do something else!”
Works on display will include iconic illustrations for all ages, including Lewis
Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” Kurt
Baumann’s “Dozy & Hawkeye” and Steadman’s “The Little Red Computer” and “That’s My
Dad.” Visitors will engage with art depicting famous writers and musicians and keen
observations on politics and society, demonstrated through Steadman’s series of portraits
of United States presidents. “Vintage Dr. Gonzo,” a life-size bronze sculpture by
Jud Bergeron, will also be touring with the exhibition.
“This exhibition provides the campus a rare opportunity to help our students learn
from the catalog of work of a visual luminary who is still alive and working today,”
said Chris Whittey, Vennerberg chair of art, department of art, graphic design and
art history, at Oklahoma State University.
“Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing” is accompanied by a full-color, 207-page publication
of the same name. Special hardcover and softcover editions will be available.
Following the presentation at the OSU Museum of Art, the exhibition will continue
its tour at the Bates College Museum of Art in Lewiston, Maine and the Barry Art Museum
at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. It will also tour the West Coast
through the fall of 2027.
“Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing” will be on view at the OSU Museum of Art from
Jan. 21 to May 10, 2025. More on this exhibition, including programs and events, is
available at https://museum.okstate.edu/art/ralph-steadman.html.
