Dearly Beloved

Art&Culture, Publications

Author and illustrator Maira Kalman’s Beloved Dog celebrates the way our hounds manage to bring out the best in us.

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Dearly Beloved

WORDS BY Jessa Shields

The pup with the wry smile on the cover of Maira Kalman’s new book, Beloved Dog is her own Irish Wheaten, Pete. He’s just one of many canine characters who star in the renowned artist and author’s compendium of, and tribute to, the many dogs she has encountered over the years, both in life and in literature. “Dogs embody total innocence and truth. And they are just funny. And they make people happy just by existing,” said Maira, whose trademark wit and sensitivity radiate from every page of Beloved Dog.

A frequent contributor to The New Yorker, The New York Times and the writer and illustrator of over eighteen acclaimed children’s books, Maira’s warm and colourful paintings are clearly inspired by artists like Ludwig Bemelmans and Henri Matisse. And of course, an unabashed infatuation with four-legged friends. “If the natural desire for humans is to love and be loved, dogs allow for that connection in the most uncomplicated way,” she said. “And when you are in love, you are the best of yourself.”

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Images courtesy of Maira Kalman / The Penguin Press
Beloved Dog is published by The Penguin Press
mairakalman.com

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Publications

PACK OF DOGS BY MICHAEL GILLETTE

Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a joyful title designed for music, pop culture and dog lovers alike.

August 25, 2020