(STOCKBRIDGE, Mass.) — An exhibition devoted to the work of Hungarian-born artist Istvan Banyai opens at Norman Rockwell Museum on Saturday, March 9, 2013, and runs through Sunday, May 5, 2013, as part of the museum’s Distinguished Illustrator Series. Banyai’s striking imagery has appeared on the covers and pages of rhe New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Playboy, Rolling Stone, Mother Jones, the New York Times, GQ and Esquire, and in work for Absolut Vodka, Nickelodeon, MTV Europe and Encyclopedia Britannica. The artist is also the creator of such acclaimed children’s picture books as “Zoom,” “Re-Zoom,” “The Other Side,” and “REM,” whose unexpected perspectives have made him one of the most original and iconoclastic illustrators today.

“The intelligence of Istvan Banyai’s imagery and elegance of his execution captivated me from the start,” notes Norman Rockwell Museum Chief Curator Stephanie Plunkett. “In his smartly constructed visual world, people move fluidly through time and space, eerily disconnected from one another, and shadows seem to have a mind of their own. Pointed in its commentary, Banyai’s art also conveys an air of quiet mystery, and his absorbing illustrations inspire more questions than answers, a reminder that things are not always what they seem.”

A special exhibition opening event for Istvan Banyai: Stranger in a Strange Land will be held at Norman Rockwell Museum on Saturday, March 9, 2013, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with commentary by Banyai at 6:30 p.m. A reception will follow with a taste of Hungary, including refreshments and a cash bar. Admission to the event costs $20, free for Museum members.

Exhibition-Related Programs

An Evening with Istvan Banyai
Saturday, March 23, 5:30 p.m.

Join award-winning illustrator Istvan Banyai for a personal look at the artist’s creative and professional journey. Refreshments and a book signing will follow. Free with Museum admission.

 

School Vacation Week
The Wonder of Wordless Picture Books
Monday through Friday, April 15 through 19, 1 to 5 p.m.

Let the picture tell the story! Create your own picture book in these hands-on art workshops. Free with Museum admission.

 

Zoom! A Special Family Day
Saturday, April 20, 1 to 4 p.m.

Take an exciting journey from a farm to a ship to a city street and desert island through the art of Istvan Banyai, and his picture books, “Zoom,” “Re-Zoom,” “The Other Side,” and “REM.” Meet the artist and enjoy a day of readings, workshops, signings and fun for all ages. Free with Museum admission.

About The Distinguished Illustrator Series

The Norman Rockwell Museum Distinguished Illustrator Series honors the unique contributions of outstanding visual communicators today. Presented by the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies, the nation’s first research institute devoted to the art of illustration, the Distinguished Illustrator Series reflects the impact and evolution of Norman Rockwell’s beloved profession, exploring a diverse and ever-changing field.
About Norman Rockwell Museum

Norman Rockwell Museum holds the largest and most significant collection of art and archival materials relating to the life and work of Norman Rockwell. The Museum also preserves, interprets, and exhibits a growing collection of original illustration art by noted American illustrators, from historical to contemporary. The Norman Rockwell Museum Art Collection and Norman Rockwell Archive inspire a vibrant year-round exhibition program, national traveling exhibitions, and arts and humanities programs that engage diverse audiences. The Museum’s collections, which are made accessible worldwide, are a comprehensive resource relating to Norman Rockwell and the art of illustration, the role of published imagery in society, and the American twentieth century.

Since its inception, the Norman Rockwell Museum has explored the impact of illustrated images and their role in shaping and reflecting our world through changing exhibitions, publications, and programs. Dedication to a deepened understanding of the art of illustration has led to the formation of the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies. The first of its kind in the nation, this research institute supports sustained scholarship and establishes the Norman Rockwell Museum’s leadership in the vanguard of preservation and interpretation relating to this important aspect of American visual culture

Norman Rockwell Museum is located on 36 park-like acres in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Rockwell’s hometown for the last 25 years of his life. The Museum is open year-round; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. From May through October, hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; from November through April, hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Rockwell’s studio is open May through October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum admission is $16, $14.50 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for kids, and teens 6 to 18, and free for Museum member, active military personnel, and children 5 and under.