page_title: Visual arts of Chicago
section_title: Irreverence, satire
hierarchical_section_title: Visual arts of Chicago / Irreverence, satire
caption_attribution_description: Dorothy meets the Cowardly Lion, from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz first edition.
context_page_description: Visual arts of Chicago refers to paintings, prints, illustrations, textile art, sculpture, ceramics and other visual artworks produced in Chicago or by people with a connection to Chicago. Since World War II, Chicago visual art has had a strong individualistic streak, little influenced by outside fashions. "One of the unique characteristics of Chicago," said Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts curator Bob Cozzolino, "is there's always been a very pronounced effort to not be derivative, to not follow the status quo." The Chicago art world has been described as having "a stubborn sense ... of tolerant pluralism." However, Chicago's art scene is "critically neglected." Critic Andrew Patner has said, "Chicago's commitment to figurative painting, dating back to the post-War period, has often put it at odds with New York critics and dealers." It is argued that Chicago art is rarely found in Chicago museums; some of the most remarkable Chicago artworks are found in other cities.
context_section_description: Chicago has a strong tradition of satirical, even grotesque art and illustration.  The early books of L. Frank Baum were illustrated with the strange work of William Wallace Denslow.  The Chicago tradition of political satire is seen in installation artist Öyvind Fahlström, cartoonish artist Hy Roth, and actual cartoonists Heather McAdams and Nicole Hollander.  Other Chicago cartoonists recognised by the art world include Lynda Barry, Dan Clowes, Jay Lynch and Chris Ware (whose work was shown at the 2002 Whitney Biennial).  Significant comics artists from Chicago include Jessica Abel, "Herblock" (Herbert Block),  animator Walt Disney, adventure satirist Phil Foglio, and goth cartoonist Jill Thompson.
caption: W. W. Denslow's illustration of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
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