Judy Horacek
Encyclopedia
Judy Horacek is an Australia
n cartoonist
, illustrator
and writer whose work is widely published and exhibited.
In 2005, a selection of her work was acquired by the National Library of Australia
for its collection. She said at the time that "I really like being recognised for having done work that is part of the social discourse. And it's always nice to see cartoons get another lease on life - now they represent a particular time and context and become part of the portrait of who we [Australians] are".
from the University of Melbourne
in 1991, majoring in Fine Arts and English. She then studied for a Diploma in Museum Studies at Victoria University. In 2007 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Visual) in Printmedia and Drawing from Australian National University.
She lives in Melbourne], [Victoria.
After illustrating a children's picture book for Mem Fox
, she began to write and illustrate her own children's books, something she had always wanted to do.
It was her interest in feminism which "drove Horacek's early work and established her reputation as a cartoonist". Since then, in addition to an ongoing interest in women's issues, her cartoons have covered a wide range of social and political issues such as the Australian Republican Movement
, immigration, indigenous issues and FlyBuys. Cartoonist Peter Nicholson describes her work as follows:
Horacek's first commissioned work for The Age
newspaper was published on International Women's Day
1995, next to the obituary of Senator Olive Zakharov
. This was her cartoon, Woman with Altitude, a work which has since appeared on fridge magnets greeting cards, tea-towels and T-shirts. In 2007, she said that "The woman with altitude ... represents who we could be". At various times she has had regular spots in such newspapers and magazines as The Age
, The Weekend Australian Magazine
, The Canberra Times
and the Australian Book Review
.
's Where is the Green Sheep. It was shortlisted for several book awards, and in 2005 won the Children's Book Council of Australia
Book of the Year - Early Childhood Award. She has since started writing her own children's books, the first being The Story of Growl (2007), followed by "These are My Hands" (2008), "These are My Feet" (2009) and "Yellow is my favourite colour"
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
, illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and writer whose work is widely published and exhibited.
In 2005, a selection of her work was acquired by the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
for its collection. She said at the time that "I really like being recognised for having done work that is part of the social discourse. And it's always nice to see cartoons get another lease on life - now they represent a particular time and context and become part of the portrait of who we [Australians] are".
Life
Horacek graduated with a BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1991, majoring in Fine Arts and English. She then studied for a Diploma in Museum Studies at Victoria University. In 2007 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Visual) in Printmedia and Drawing from Australian National University.
She lives in Melbourne], [Victoria.
Writing
Horacek started her career as a writer, and was a member of a community writing group in North Melbourne. Words are an important part of her cartoons, and sometimes dominate the pictures.After illustrating a children's picture book for Mem Fox
Mem Fox
Mem Fox, AM is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox is semi-retired and lives in Adelaide.-Career:...
, she began to write and illustrate her own children's books, something she had always wanted to do.
Cartoons
"My life has been a quest to find new and better place to stick cartoons", Horacek has said. Accordingly, her cartoons can be found in newspapers and magazines, online, on aprons and teatowels, on mugs, on fridge magnets and cards, and as limited edition prints. Her cartoons have been described as whimsical and quirky. As she says, "I take every day situations and make them strange"It was her interest in feminism which "drove Horacek's early work and established her reputation as a cartoonist". Since then, in addition to an ongoing interest in women's issues, her cartoons have covered a wide range of social and political issues such as the Australian Republican Movement
Australian Republican Movement
The Australian Republican Movement is a non-partisan lobby group advocating constitutional change in Australia to a republican form of government, from a constitutional monarchy.-Foundation:...
, immigration, indigenous issues and FlyBuys. Cartoonist Peter Nicholson describes her work as follows:
Horacek's first commissioned work for The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
newspaper was published on International Women's Day
International Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
1995, next to the obituary of Senator Olive Zakharov
Olive Zakharov
Alice Olive Zakharov was an Australian politician. Zakharov was elected as an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Senate relatively late in life, in 1983....
. This was her cartoon, Woman with Altitude, a work which has since appeared on fridge magnets greeting cards, tea-towels and T-shirts. In 2007, she said that "The woman with altitude ... represents who we could be". At various times she has had regular spots in such newspapers and magazines as The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, The Weekend Australian Magazine
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
, The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by Arthur Shakespeare.It was the second paper to be printed in the city, the first being The Federal Capital Pioneer. The paper was sold to the Fairfax group in the 1960s by Arthur Shakespeare on the condition that it continue...
and the Australian Book Review
Australian Book Review
Australian Book Review is Australia's leading literary review. Created in 1961 the ABR is an independent non-profit organisation that publishes articles, reviews, commentaries, essays, and new writing...
.
Illustration
She illustrated Mem Fox's non-fiction book, Reading Magic, and in 2004 she illustrated her first children's book, Mem FoxMem Fox
Mem Fox, AM is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox is semi-retired and lives in Adelaide.-Career:...
's Where is the Green Sheep. It was shortlisted for several book awards, and in 2005 won the Children's Book Council of Australia
Children's Book Council of Australia
The Children's Book Council of Australia is a not for profit organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians. The CBCA presents annual awards for books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature.-Awards:The first...
Book of the Year - Early Childhood Award. She has since started writing her own children's books, the first being The Story of Growl (2007), followed by "These are My Hands" (2008), "These are My Feet" (2009) and "Yellow is my favourite colour"
External links
- Judy Horacek's website
- Judy Horacek collection of cartoons - held and digitised by the National Library of Australia
- Portrait of Judy Horacek, cartoonist, by Virginia Wallace-Crabbe