Overview
Colleen Doran Illustrates Neil Gaiman was view at the Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, New York, NY 10065. March 22 - July 29, 2023.
Chivalry “glints like a shimmering summer watercolor.” Washington Post’s top ten graphic novels.
Eisner Winner for best adaptation Chivalry (2023) and Snow, Glass, Apples (2020).
In the midst of a long career drawing comics for such titles as Wonder Woman, Amazing Spider-Man, and her own creator-owned title A Distant Soil, Colleen Doran has found her artistic Holy Grail in her series of adaptations of Neil Gaiman short stories published by Dark Horse, including her latest masterpiece Chivalry, the Eisner and Bram Stoker Award-winning dark fantasy Snow Glass Apples, and Troll Bridge, a spooky coming-of-age story.
A lifelong enthusiast of Arthurian mythology, Doran longed to adapt Gaiman’s 1998 short story Chivalry, the story of Mrs. Whitaker, a British widow who finds the Holy Grail in a thrift shop and the knight who offers her priceless relics in exchange so he can win the Grail and end his quest. Like the Illuminated manuscripts that inspired her colors and layout, Doran’s lush hand-painted pages for Chivalry are full of symbolism taken from her personal life, world history, and Arthurian legend. Her color palette of iridescent jewel tones, lush golds, and detailed drawing make viewing the original artwork a special experience.
Also on view will be several pages from Snow Glass Apples, Doran’s version of Gaiman’s chilling retelling of the Snow White story, drawn in an intricate style influenced by the Irish artist Harry Clarke. The exhibit, curated by Kim A. Munson, editor of the Eisner nominated anthology Comic Art in Museums and 2022 Eisner Awards Judge, will also include works from other Doran/Gaiman titles such as The Sandman, American Gods, Norse Mythology, and others.
Press for Doran/Gaiman: Rob Salkowitz for Forbes “New Exhibit Showcases How Colleen Doran Illustrates Neil Gaiman” (3/23/23), Heidi McDonald for The Beat “The 2023 MoCCA Arts Festival drew 8,000 Readers” (4/4/23), Kevin Sharp for Fanbase Press “Chasing the Grail: An Interview with Colleen Doran and Kim Munson about the exhibit Colleen Doran Illustrates Neil Gaiman” (6/14/23), Popverse “It’s okay to suck": Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran on failure (and what comes next)” (2/6/2024).
Awards: Chivalry nominated for Eisner Awards for Best Adaptation, Best Lettering (6/2/23). Chivalry nominated for the Reuben Award for Best Graphic Novel (The Beat, NCS Divisional Finalists Announced for Reuben Awards, 6/16/23), Chivalry wins Locus Award for Best Illustrated and Art Book (6/24/23).
The exhibit is opening at the San Diego Comic-Con Museum on October 4 2023 through March 2024. Photos by Marc Greenberg, Colleen Doran, and Kim Munson.
