50+ Years of Joy: Jean Charlot’s Children’s Books

Master Artist. Children’s Books. An Interesting Life.

Jean Charlot was a famous muralist and master printmaker who influenced many artists, including Diego Rivera on his mural techniques and the animation team for Walt Disney. Although he traveled many places in his long career, Charlot first came to Hawai‘i in 1949 to create a mural on campus, and joined the Art Department faculty that same year. He illustrated over twenty children’s books across a period of fifty years. Like murals, his children’s books were one more way he was able to create art that is accessible to the public. His range of topics, which reflect his unusual and expansive life, are compelling and wide-reaching and the techniques he used are impressive. His books have won prestigious illustration awards, been displayed at major art biennials, were translated into many languages, and some are still being reprinted today.

Exhibit Information

The exhibit on the first floor is accessible through December 20, whenever the Library is open. The Jean Charlot Collection is located on the 5th floor. It is free to visit and the archivists will help you during drop-in hours from 1:00 - 4:00 pm on Tuesdays and 9:00 am - noon on Thursdays, or by appointment.