Ian Woodward Falconer was an American author and illustrator of children's books. He is the author of the Olivia series and of more than thirty New Yorker covers. During his short career, Falconer also designed numerous opera and ballet sets and costumes and received a Caldecott medal for Olivia the Pig in 2001.
Ian Falconer was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut. He grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. Falconer attended the Long Ridge School in Stamford and Cambridge School of Weston in Massachusetts, both private institutions where he said he was allowed to pursue his early artistic interests.
Finally, Ian Falconer graduated from the New York Academy of Art and began his career as a freelance illustrator.
Falconer began his professional life in the 1980s as a protege of the British painter David Hockney. In 1987, he assisted the artist with the costume designs for the Los Angeles Opera's production of Tristan Und Isolde, and in 1992 assisted Hockney with the Chicago Lyric Opera's production of Turandot.
His first book, Olivia, was published in 2000 and became an instant classic. The book features a playful pig named Olivia, who charmed her way into bestsellerdom, becoming one of the most popular characters in modern children’s literature
Olivia has won numerous awards, including the Caldecott Honor in 2001. Falconer has since written and illustrated several other Olivia books, including Olivia Saves the Circus (2001), Olivia and the Missing Toy (2003), and Olivia Forms a Band (2006). The most recent was Olivia the Spy, published in 2017.
In 2007 Olivia was listed as one of the Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children by the National Education Association.
In 2008, Falconer designed the sets and oversaw the installation for the operetta Veronique at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Starting with the 2015 season, the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker features costumes and sets designed by Falconer.
One of his most recent works, Two Dogs (2022), about the adventures of a pair of dachshunds, was inspired by his sister's children.
Ian Falconer died from kidney failure at a hospital in Norwalk at the age of 63.
Ian Falconer was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut. He grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. Falconer attended the Long Ridge School in Stamford and Cambridge School of Weston in Massachusetts, both private institutions where he said he was allowed to pursue his early artistic interests.
Finally, Ian Falconer graduated from the New York Academy of Art and began his career as a freelance illustrator.
Falconer began his professional life in the 1980s as a protege of the British painter David Hockney. In 1987, he assisted the artist with the costume designs for the Los Angeles Opera's production of Tristan Und Isolde, and in 1992 assisted Hockney with the Chicago Lyric Opera's production of Turandot.
His first book, Olivia, was published in 2000 and became an instant classic. The book features a playful pig named Olivia, who charmed her way into bestsellerdom, becoming one of the most popular characters in modern children’s literature
Olivia has won numerous awards, including the Caldecott Honor in 2001. Falconer has since written and illustrated several other Olivia books, including Olivia Saves the Circus (2001), Olivia and the Missing Toy (2003), and Olivia Forms a Band (2006). The most recent was Olivia the Spy, published in 2017.
In 2007 Olivia was listed as one of the Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children by the National Education Association.
In 2008, Falconer designed the sets and oversaw the installation for the operetta Veronique at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Starting with the 2015 season, the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker features costumes and sets designed by Falconer.
One of his most recent works, Two Dogs (2022), about the adventures of a pair of dachshunds, was inspired by his sister's children.
Ian Falconer died from kidney failure at a hospital in Norwalk at the age of 63.
years of life: 25 August 1959 – 7 March 2023
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