The relationship between an author’s story and an artist’s vision will be explored in the Society of Illustrators’ Artist vs Author exhibit.

“Why ‘versus’? Aren’t the artist and author on the same creative team? For every case like F. Scott Fitzgerald gushing that Henry Raleigh’s drawings are ‘the best I’ve ever seen,’ we have also seen the author’s cherished visual concepts complicated by the illustrator, who may alter a story’s point of view, elevate a character, or provide missing settings and costumes,” the exhibit’s description reads.

“The illustrator is drawing upon a different vocabulary, a different history, a different culture. Any synergy is missed when an image-less edition is published. Then again, is the clarity that illustration brings even wanted? J.D. Salinger famously resisted all attempts to illustrate him,” the description continues.

The connection between magazine and book co-creators will be showcased in this exhibit and sale curated by Roger Reed. It will feature relationships from William Shakespeare as seen by Arthur Keller, to Toni Morrison as seen by Thomas Blackshear II, to Arthur Conan Doyle as seen by Sergio Martinez. Comedy, fantasy, westerns, and mystery will be covered by famous and unknown artists and authors alike.

Artist vs Author is running September 8 through October 22, 2022. The Society Of Illustrators is located at 128 West 63rd Street in New York City. More details are available on the Society Illustrators website or by calling (212) 838-2560.