Michael Leunig, a prolific and popular Australian cartoonist whose drawings on life, politics and societal issues could each tell one thousand words, or more, has died Thursday, December 19th at the age of 79.
Born in East Melbourne in 1945, a slaughterman’s son and one of five kids, Leunig was totally deaf in one ear and was rejected for military service.
The army’s loss was the publishing world’s gain.
He would launch his career as a political cartoonist in 1969, cutting his teeth with “Woman’s Day” and the US’s “Oz” magazine, and by the mid-’70s would publish a book of cartoons, “The Penguin Leunig.”
In the intervening years, he would produce 23 more collections, including books of newspaper columns, poetry and prayer.
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Leunig’s artworks, depicting sympathetic, nose-heavy characters that could only have been crafted from his hand, were regularly published in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and were always signed off with the mononym “Leunig.”
During his lifetime, Leunig was awarded honorary degrees from LaTrobe, Griffith and the Australian Catholic universities “for his unique contribution to Australian culture,” and in 1999 was declared a national living treasure by the National Trust. His artworks, including prints, paintings and drawings, have been exhibited broadly and are held in various public and private collections.
In 2001 he wrote songs and lyrical poetry with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee and Rolling Stone AU/NZ Icon Neil Finn, along with Brett Dean and Richard Tognetti for the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s production of “Parables, Lullabies and Secrets,” and developed a series of short clay figure animations for SBS Television.
“The pen has run dry, its ink no longer flowing — yet Mr. Curly and his ducks will remain etched in our hearts, cherished and eternal,” reads a post on his Instagram account.
“Michael Leunig passed away peacefully today, in the early hours of December 19, 2024. During his final days, he was surrounded by his children, loved ones, and sunflowers — accompanied as ever, by his dear old friends, Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven.”
Leunig was a “master of his craft and a near-permanent fixture on the fridge doors and dining tables of the nation,” remarks The Age editor Patrick Elligett. “His passing will be mourned by millions, and felt acutely by readers of The Age, who for 55 years had the privilege of enjoying his work and wit.”
The late artist is survived by his partner and four children.
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