Jean Michel Folon "L' Arbre" Serigraph for Gallerie Marquet, Paris, 1975

Jean-Michel Folon (1934 – 2005), better known as “Folon,” was a Belgian painter, illustrator, and sculptor who produced images featured in various publications throughout the world. He is renowned for his branded watercolor illustrations of often whimsical birds, winged people, and other peculiar characters painted in a surrealistic style. Early in his career Folon published his drawings in newspapers mostly in the USA, where he was recognized earlier than in Europe, and illustrated books by Franz Kafka and Ray Bradbury, amongst others. He created numerous works in many different media for well known individuals and cultural institutions worldwide, including in theatre, opera, subways, film and television, sculptures, tapestries, church windows and even a flag.