A Marriage of Artistry: Leo and Diane Dillon

Born 11 days apart on opposite sides of the country, Leo Dillon and Diane Sorber met as students at the Parsons School of Design, where they became instant rivals and steadfast partners in life and art. They worked in concert over 50 years, demonstrating remarkable versatility and a mastery of media, adopting different modes of expression to best illustrate each narrative. They dedicated themselves to portraying children of color, so young readers could see themselves reflected in stories. This survey presentation includes art from the Dillons’ two Caldecott Medal books, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears (1976) and Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (1977), as well as numerous other titles. Diane’s solo venture, I Can be Anything (2018), was also featured.