The Demuth Museum’s current exhibition features the work of renowned illustrator Barry Root, who makes his home in Lancaster. Root began his career working in magazine illustration in New York City. After meeting his wife Kimberly, also a well-known illustrator, the Roots moved to Lancaster.
Barry Root, Page from Messenger, Messenger, 2000, watercolor and gouache on paper, Private Collection
This exhibition highlights works spanning Root’s career from his early days of magazine illustration to his most current publication. Beginning with break-out work for the cover of the New York Times magazine to the many stories illustrated for Forbes magazine and Sports Illustrated, Root went on to focus his career towards children’s books and their illustration. This exhibit will also take a look into the process Root goes through to achieve a finished illustrated book. Many may not realize that Root rarely meets the authors of the books he illustrates; rather the publisher selects the illustrator for the author. The author creates the action of the book through the words and Root, through the illustrations, creates the description.
“Root’s illustrations are whimsical and enchanting,” notes Executive Director and Curator of the exhibition, Anne M. Lampe. “His work speaks not only to children, but to adults, making it accessible to all.” This exhibition will also feature a selection of Root’s oil paintings, which are, as he notes, “my adult work.”
The Demuth Museum is pleased to be able to offer a few of Root’s work for sale in this exhibition. The artist, who normally eschews the commercial side of his finished pieces, assented to parting with some illustrations for this particular exhibition.
This exhibition is on view through June 26, 2011 at the Demuth Museum, 120 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602.
Regular Museum hours: Tues-Sat 10 am – 4 pm and Sundays 1-4 pm.
Please call 717-299-9940 or visit www.demuth.org