Best of Bologna: Edgiest Artists of the 2008 International Children's Book Fair

Original Exhibit: July 8 – October 8, 2009:
Deering Library, Third Floor
Permanent Exhibit: Completed October 2010:
Main Library, Fourth Floor

Franziska Neubert
Born: Leipzig, Germany
Currently resides in:
Leipzig, Germany
Preferred Technique: Woodcut




Published Titles
Le grand frère
La Koie de Lire, Genève
Si polis et tout et tout
Editions Thierry Magnier, Paris

Personal Statement

I like it when pictures are narrative, but I don’t like it when visual worlds are designed exclusively for children. It is important for me to create a visual universe that automatically captivates all viewers. That’s why I think that an illustrator should be interested in far more than just children’s books or in their creation. The love of literature in general, the book as an object in itself, the art of drawing, and a general interest in art are basic requirements for my work as an illustrator. My sources of inspiration are often contemporary art as well as old illustrations in non-fiction books, but my visual world is also influenced by amateur drawings or the drawings of my daughters. The observation of everyday occurrences and the guiding of sight and perspectives are all an integral part of the illustration process. On the other hand, so is the breaking of these creative rules; this is a constant challenge in my own work. I believe that illustrations should not represent the text nail for nail, but should question it, interpret it and if the text allows, tell their own story. The respect shown for the future viewer, regardless of age, should not lead to a situation in which all expectations are fulfilled, but rather create something new and even unexpected.