Award Winning Author/Illustrator Eric Rohmann to Exhibit at OMA

ORLANDO, FL, August 8, 2016 --- On Saturday, August 6, the Orlando Museum of Art opened “My Friend, Eric Rohmann,” an exhibition of work by the award winning author and illustrator Eric Rohmann. Visitors had the opportunity to attend a special story-telling event with Eric Rohmann and Candace Fleming as they read stories they wrote together, followed by a book signing. Later that afternoon, Rohmann lead a gallery walk through the exhibition for visitors. The exhibition is on view now through October 30, 2016.

In 2003, Rohmann won the Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing his bold relief prints illustrated in “My Friend Rabbit.” His book “Time Flies” won a Caldecott Honor Book award and was named a “New York Times” Notable Book of the year. Rohmann has created book jackets for a number of novels, including “His Dark Materials” by Philip Pullman.

Eric Rohmann grew up in Downers Grove, a suburb of Chicago. As a boy, Rohmann played baseball, read comic books, and collected rocks, minerals, insects, leaves and animal skulls. Although Rohmann was not originally an avid reader, he did develop a deep appreciation for storytelling from a young age. Rohmann was drawn to comic books because of their combined use of art and storytelling, a childhood hobby that would eventually peak his own interest in writing and illustrating children’s books. He holds degrees in fine arts from Arizona State University and Illinois State University and currently lives in a suburb of Chicago. In addition to writing and illustrating children’s books, he has taught drawing and printmaking. His artwork has been featured in various exhibitions and permanent collections throughout the country.

Rohmann uses a variety of artistic media and techniques, such as woodblock, scratchboard, gouache, collage, pen and ink, pastel and watercolor. Many times, Rohmann selects the medium based on what best fits the story he is illustrating. In this exhibition, there are over 70 paintings, drawings and preparatory sketches created for many of the books that Rohmann wrote or illustrated. Also featured are the preparatory sketches and final drawings created for a new book, “Giant Squid,” which will be released later this year.

“In the end I make books for kids because they are the best audience: children are curious, enthusiastic, impulsive, generous and pleased by simple joys. They laugh easily at the ridiculous and are willing to believe the absurd. Children are not ironic, disillusioned or indifferent, but hopeful, open-minded and openhearted, with a voracious hunger for pictures,” said Rohmann.

This exhibition was organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, Abilene, Texas.

For press images or additional information, please contact Michael Caibio, Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations Manager, at mcaibio@omart.org or at 407.896.4231 ext. 233.