Dan Nadel Presents Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life

Join us at NYPL for a talk by Dan Nadel about his latest book, Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life, the first biography of Robert Crumb.

About this Event

Join us for an illuminating talk by Dan Nadel about his latest book, , the first biography of Robert Crumb. Nadel will be giving a lecture on his new work and the towering figure at the heart of it, a pioneering artist whose singular, unfiltered style helped redefine the boundaries of comics in the 1960s and beyond.

Best known for iconic creations like Zap Comix, Mr. Natural, and Fritz the Cat, Robert Crumb revolutionized the medium with his deeply personal, often controversial work that explored taboo topics, cultural anxieties, and the darker corners of the American psyche. As a founding figure of the underground comix movement, his influence can still be felt across graphic novels, contemporary art, and pop culture at large.

Don’t miss this deep dive into the life and legacy of one of the most provocative and important cartoonists of the 20th century.

Author Bio

Dan Nadel is the author of Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life. His previous books include, It’s Life as I See It: Black Cartoonists in Chicago, 1940–1980; Peter Saul: Professional Artist Correspondence, 1945–1976; and Art Out of Time: Unknown Comic Visionaries, 1900–1969. Nadel has curated exhibitions for galleries and museums internationally including the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, UC Davis, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

To join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

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