Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup with Rice (1962), Where the Wild Things Are (1963), and In the Night Kitchen (1970).
Born in Brooklyn in 1928 to Jewish immigrant parents from northern Poland, Sendak was a largely self-taught artist. His characters, stories, and inspirations were drawn from among his own neighbors, family, pop culture, historical sources, literary influences, and long-held childhood memories. Along with William Steig, Ludwig Bemelmans and Laurent de Brunhoff he is one of the most popular authors of children’s books in the world.
Sendak worked with such well-known children’s authors as Ruth Krauss, Else Minarik, and Arthur Yorinks, and illustrated books by Leo Tolstoy, Herman Melville, Isaac Bashevis Singer, the Brothers Grimm, and the poet Randall Jarrell. He began a second career as a costume and stage designer in the late 1970s, designing operas by Mozart, Prokofiev, Ravel, and Tchaikovsky, among others.
Sendak won numerous awards, including a Caldecott Award, the international Hans Christian Andersen Award, a National Book Award, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and a National Medal of Arts. His books continue to be read by millions of children and adults and have been translated into dozens of languages and enjoyed all over the world.
Find original Maurice Sendak prints, paintings and other art for sale on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Lions Gallery)
Mother Goose, Children's Art Screenprint by Maurice Sendak
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Long Island City, NY
A traditional children's illustration-style print of Mother Goose, sitting on a stack of books and writing down stories on a scroll. She is elaborately dressed in striped trousers, a...
Screen
Original Animation Cel from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation cel drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this ...
Watercolor
Original Pencil Drawing from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel ...
Paper, Carbon Pencil
$2,062Sale Price|25% Off
H 18.25 in W 20 in D 1 in
Guardian Ver. II (framed original drawing on paper)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original crayon and pencil drawing on paper. Hand signed and dated on front by Peter Max. Remarqued and hand signed on frame verso by Peter Max. Paper size: 6 x 7.8 inches. Frame...
Paper, Mixed Media, Crayon, Pencil
French School, Academic Study (Male Nude)
Located in London, GB
Charcoal on paper, 60cm x 42cm, (74cm x 60cm framed). The picture is framed behind museum quality non-reflective UV glass. Drawings and paintings of the nude were central to academ...
Paper, Carbon Pencil
$38,500
H 11 in W 8.5 in
Untitled (homage to Ellsworth Kelly) 1950s watercolor signed by Robert Indiana
By Robert Indiana
Located in New York, NY
Robert Indiana Untitled homage to Ellsworth Kelly (Acquired from the studio of Robert Indiana), 1959 Watercolor and pencil on Plover Bond paper This is an original, hand signed and d...
Watercolor, Graphite
$263Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.3 in W 12.6 in D 0.08 in
Academic Drawing. Figure Study of Young Sitting Nude Man. 19th Century.
Located in Firenze, IT
Charcoal drawing on light gray-blue colored paper. The drawing depicts a young man sitting with the hand on forehead. the position is probably meant to express the feeling of regret,...
Steel
$700
H 27.75 in W 23.75 in D 1 in
Autumn in New York by Jane Wooster Scott
By Jane Wooster Scott
Located in New York, NY
Jane Wooster Scott (American, b. 1920) Autumn in New York, c. 20th Century Lithograph Sight: 15 x 12 in. Framed: 27 3/4 x 23 3/4 x 1 in. Signed and titled lower right in plate: Autum...
Lithograph
$133
H 12 in W 8.25 in
Original Fashion Design Illustration Watercolor Painting Laura Ashley Designer
By Roz Jennings
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Original Fashion Design Illustration by Roz Jennings, British watercolor and ink on card, unframed size: 12 x 8.25 inches condition: very good A beautifully colorful and characterfu...
Ink, Watercolor
$133
H 12 in W 8.25 in
Original Fashion Design Illustration Watercolor Painting Laura Ashley Designer
By Roz Jennings
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Original Fashion Design Illustration by Roz Jennings, British watercolor and ink on card, unframed size: 12 x 8.25 inches condition: very good A beautifully colorful and characterfu...
Ink, Watercolor
$210Sale Price|30% Off
H 18.9 in W 14.97 in
Academic Study for the Head of an Apostle or Saint
Located in Firenze, IT
Study for the Head of an Apostle or Saint Artist: Enrico Reffo (1831-1917) Medium: Charcoal and white chalk on colored paper Dimensions: [To be specified] Date: Late 19th - Early 20...
Paper, Charcoal, Carbon Pencil
$133
H 12 in W 8.25 in
Original Fashion Design Illustration Watercolor Painting Laura Ashley Designer
By Roz Jennings
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Original Fashion Design Illustration by Roz Jennings, British watercolor and ink on card, unframed size: 12 x 8.25 inches condition: very good A beautifully colorful and characterfu...
Ink, Watercolor
Descanso (Break)
By Jorge Dumas
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Signed, titled and numbered in pencil Edition: 250 (5/250) Signed, titled and numbered in pencil Published by Circle Gallery Ltd. Printer: Atelier Dumas, New York Condition: Very good Atelier Dumas opened in New York printing own work as well as those of Peter Max, Agam, Romare Bearden, Dali, Erté, Peter Hurd, Ting, Karl Appel...
Lithograph
$2,500
H 59 in W 43 in D 0.1 in
The Old Man from the last Expo. Crayon pencil on archival paper
By Celso José Castro Daza
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Drawing on paper is his basic work tool, some are sketches of his surviving works, others are sketches of moments he documents. Undefined by medium, Celso Castro’s works each carry...
Carbon Pencil, Paper, Crayon, Ink, Watercolor
$12,000
H 17.75 in W 15.25 in D 2 in
“Untitled (Gun Study D-310), 1993” Body Hammer Series Drawing Signed .38 Special
By Robert Longo
Located in Yardley, PA
Emerging in the late twentieth century with his celebrated “Men in the Cities” series, Robert Longo quickly established himself as a draftsman of rare discipline, transforming media ...
Paper, Charcoal, Carbon Pencil, Graphite
Sold
H 12.24 in W 12.5 in
Original Pencil Drawing from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel ...
Paper, Carbon Pencil
Mother Goose, Children's Art Screenprint by Maurice Sendak
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Long Island City, NY
A traditional children's illustration-style print of Mother Goose, sitting on a stack of books and writing down stories on a scroll. She is elaborately dr...
Screen
Sold
H 10.24 in W 12.5 in
Original Pencil Drawing from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel is from the PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" sequence. this is the original pencil drawing from the 1970s. it is from the estate of the film producer Dan Hunn. Maurice Bernard Sendak, June 10, 1928-2012 Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup...
Paper, Carbon Pencil
Sold
H 12.24 in W 12.5 in
Original Pencil Drawing from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel is from the PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" sequence. this is the original pencil drawing from the 1970s. it is from the estate of the film producer Dan Hunn. Maurice Bernard Sendak, June 10, 1928-2012 Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup...
Paper, Carbon Pencil
Original Animation Cel from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation cel drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel is from the PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" sequence. this is the original vintage acetate drawing/painting from the 1970s. it is from the estate of the film producer Dan Hunn. I cannot say definitively that it is by Maurice Sendak's hand. He definitely worked on this project and the provenance is impeccable. They are quite rare and unusual. Maurice Bernard Sendak, June 10, 1928-2012 Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup...
Watercolor
Sold
H 10.24 in W 12.5 in
Original Pencil Drawing from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel is from the PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" sequence. this is the original pencil drawing from the 1970s. it is from the estate of the film producer Dan Hunn. Maurice Bernard Sendak, June 10, 1928-2012 Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup...
Carbon Pencil, Paper
Sold
H 10.24 in W 12.5 in
Original Pencil Drawing from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel is from the PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" sequence. this is the original pencil drawing from the 1970s. it is from the estate of the film producer Dan Hunn. Maurice Bernard Sendak, June 10, 1928-2012 Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup...
Carbon Pencil, Paper
Sold
H 12.24 in W 12.5 in
Original Pencil Drawing from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel is from the PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" sequence. this is the original pencil drawing from the 1970s. it is from the estate of the film producer Dan Hunn. Maurice Bernard Sendak, June 10, 1928-2012 Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup...
Carbon Pencil, Paper
Original Animation Cel from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation cel drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Send...
Sold
H 10.5 in W 12.5 in
Original Sendak Animation Cel from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation cel drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Send...
Original Animation Cel from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation cel drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel is from the PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" sequence. this is the original vintage acetate drawing/painting from the 1970s. it is from the estate of the film producer Dan Hunn. I cannot say definitively that it is by Maurice Sendak's hand. He definitely worked on this project and the provenance is impeccable. They are quite rare and unusual. Maurice Bernard Sendak, June 10, 1928-2012 Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup...
original animation cel from PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" (CBS 1970s)
By Maurice Sendak
Located in Surfside, FL
An original animation cel drawing from the CBS-TV broadcast of Sendak's "REALLY ROSIE" - (this was the first time "Rosie" appeared anywhere other than Sendak's original book) - this cel is from the PIERRE, "I DONT CARE" sequence. this is the original vintage acetate drawing/painting from the 1970s. it is from the estate of the film producer Dan Hunn. (please see the photos of the original manila envelopes) Maurice Bernard Sendak, June 10, 1928-2012 Dubbed by one critic “the Picasso of children’s literature” and once addressed by former President Bill Clinton as “the King of Dreams,” Maurice Sendak illustrated nearly a hundred picture books throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years. Some of his best known books include Chicken Soup...