Ponie O

I grew up in Montreal, Canada but went to Brandeis University in Boston as a theatre major. That was where I first learned about unspoken communication – how facial expression, clothes and gesture could telegraph better than words. And a stint as a cel painter at the National Film Board of Canada cemented my passion for animation and cartooning.

Upon graduation, I came to New York as a graduate student at Pratt Institute for design where I got my masters in communication arts. It led me to a 30-year career as a creative director in advertising – an industry very much reliant on observing human behavior.  With unintended consequences, the hundreds of focus groups I attended, where I listened to consumers from every corner of the country, influenced many of the characters who populate my work.  

Recently, I have been inspired by both the brave and tragic characters we read about every day. Their heroism has deeply influenced my most recent pieces as I try to make sense of the continuing divide we see in our country. My hope is that in juxtaposing some of these brave people with the humor and light-heartedness of my characters, I can help amplify the issues they fight for in an entertaining and accessibly visual way. More than...

Masters in Communication Design from Pratt Institute
BA from Brandeis University Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Solo show at Multiple Impressions Gallery, Soho, New York 1990
Solo show in Providence Rhode Island, 1990
Clio Art Fair, 2019
Raw Space Gallery group show, 2019
Art Aspen, July 2019
Chicago SOFA exhibition, October 2019
Article by Laurence Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ponie-o-reborn-laurence-smith/