World famous for timeless classics such as The Three Robbers and Moon Man, Tomi Ungerer is considered one of the most influential graphic artists, illustrators, and children’s book authors. What is less well known, however, is that much of his drawings and graphic works have been inspired by satirical observations of US society and politics. This beautifully designed catalog presents for the first time a cross-section through nine decades of his artistic work—from childhood drawings to collages and objects. Shedding new light on his work by making it possible to comprehend political and stylistic lines and breaks, It’s all about freedom offers deeper insights into the artistic dimension of the ‘freewheeling’ artist’s extensive oeuvre. Featuring hitherto unpublished works, this catalog identifies recurring biographical and sociopolitical motifs that Ungerer experimented with across genres—always informed by his ambiguous humor and cutting wit.

TOMI UNGERER (1931–2019) grew up in Alsace, France, and lived and worked in New York from 1956 to 1971, before spending several years in Nova Scotia, Canada. In 1976, he moved to a farm in Southern Ireland, where he lived until his death in 2019.

Deichtorhallen/Sammlung Falckenberg, Hamburg, November 27, 2021–April 24, 2022
In Cooperation with the Musée Tomi Ungerer-Centre international de l’Illustration and the Tomi Ungerer Estate