Ed Young

Caldecott Medalist Ed Young (1931-2023) was the illustrator of more than eighty books for children, seventeen of which he also wrote. He found inspiration for his work in the philosophy of Chinese painting.

“A Chinese painting is often accompanied by words,” explained Young. “They are complementary. There are things that words do that pictures never can, and likewise, there are images that words can never describe.” Born in Tientsin, China, Ed Young grew up in Shanghai and later moved to Hong Kong. As a young man, he came to the United States on a student visa to study architecture but turned instead to his love of art.

Young began his career as a commercial artist in advertising and found himself looking for something more expansive, expressive, and timeless. He discovered all this, and more, in children’s books. The subject and style of each story provide Young with the initial inspiration for his art and with the motivation for design, sequence, and pace. Accuracy in research is essential to his work – whether he is illustrating fantasy, folk tale, or realism.

According to Young, a strong foundation of credibility must be established in order to create new and exciting images. Through such images, he hopes to capture his readers and, ultimately, expand their awareness.

Young’s quest for challenge and growth are central in his role as an illustrator. “Before I am involved with a project I must be moved, and as I try something exciting, I grow. It is my purpose to stimulate growth in the reader as an active participant as well,” Young explained. “I feel the story has to be exciting, and a moving experience for a child.”

A graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Young taught at Pratt Institute, Yale University, Naropa Institute, and the University of California at Santa Cruz. In 1990, his book Lon Po Po was awarded the Caldecott Medal. He received two Caldecott Honors for his illustrations in The Emperor and the Kite as well as Seven Blind Mice. Young was also nominated twice for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the highest international recognition given to children's book authors and illustrators who have made a lasting contribution to children's literature.

Related Exhibitions: The Child In Me (2001), A Journey Without End: Ed Young (2011)

1. Ed Young. “About Ed.” Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.edyoungart.com/sample-page/