Edward Gorey, a Biographical Sketch


Image by Michael Romanos [www.MichaelRomanos.com]


A condensed biography about Edward Gorey by Andreas Brown (1933-2020), friend and owner of the Gotham Book Mart, former Edward Gorey Charitable Trustee, published on the NY Society of Illustrators (Hall of Fame Inductee in 2012),

and another, nicely-done mini-biography by cartoon arts critic R.C. Harvey for The Comics Journal in 2012.

and lastly, listen to excepts from 'Gorey Details' by Philip Glassborow in 2003, or right-click and Save Link as... to download and listen later.


Born Edward St.John Gorey on February 25, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. Died April 15, 2000 in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Education:
Francis W. Parker High School in Chicago.
The Chicago Art Institute in 1943.
Harvard College in 1946. Graduated 1950. Majored in French.

Employment:
Doubleday & Company, New York. Anchor Books art department. 1953-60.
Random House, New York. Looking Glass Library. Editor and art director. 1959-62.
Bobbs-Merrill, New York. 1963.
Doomed Enterprises. Owner.

Military Service:
Drafted into the Army in 1943. Served at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah as Company clerk until 1946.

Notable Exhibitions:
California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, California (1965)
Minnesota Institute of Arts, Minneapolis (1968)
Gotham Book Mart and Gallery, New York City (1970 and intermittently through present)
University of Texas, Austin, Texas (1971)
San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco (1971)
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania (1973)
Lincoln Center Library and Museum of the Performing Arts, New York City (1973)
Phantasmagorey at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (1974)
Graham Gallery, New York (1974 and intermittently for several years)
Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco (1993 and intermittently through 2003)
San Diego State University, San Diego, California (2004)

Some Favorite Artists:
Balthus, Bonnard, Burchfield, Ernst, Klee, Matisse, Morisot, Munch, Vuillard, Albert York.

Some Favorite Illustrators:
Edward Ardizzone, Edward Bawden, George Herriman, Pisanello.

Some Favorite Books and Authors:
Greek mythology, books about Lizzie Borden and Madeline Smith (murderesses), The Tale of Genji, Flaubert, Agatha Christie, Edward Lear, E.H.W. Meyerstein, W.K. Clifford, Dickens, Jane Austen, E.F. Benson.

Some Favorite Movies:
Silent film (especially Barrabas by Feuillade), films by Naruse (Japanese).

Some Favorite Television Programs:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cheers, "trash movies on USA cable".


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