Martha Hoeprich Kennedy (born 1951) is an Eisner Award-winning author and curator specializing in popular and applied graphic arts at the Library of Congress (LoC). She is recognized for her extensive work in curating exhibitions that celebrate editorial cartooning, graphic narratives, and the contributions of women in the field of illustration and cartooning.
Career and Curation Work
Kennedy has served as a prominent curator at the Library of Congress, where she has organized numerous influential exhibits focusing on editorial cartoons and social commentary through art. Some of her most notable exhibitions include:
- Enduring Outrage: Editorial Cartoons by Herblock (2006, co-curated with Sarah Willett Duke) – An exploration of the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Herbert Block, known as Herblock. The exhibit emphasized the continued relevance of his political commentary over decades.
- Timely and Timeless (2011) – A showcase of recent acquisitions by the LoC, highlighting the enduring power of editorial cartoons and their ability to address both historical and contemporary issues.
- Drawn to Purpose: American Women Illustrators and Cartoonists (2018) – This groundbreaking exhibition spotlighted women cartoonists and illustrators, revealing the overlooked contributions of female artists in the LoC's collections.
- Art in Action (2019, co-curated with Katherine Blood) – An exhibit focused on art addressing social justice issues, further emphasizing the use of visual art for activism and awareness.
Kennedy co-curated an earlier exhibition on the work of Ann Telnaes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, in 2004, further demonstrating her commitment to showcasing female voices in the field.
Publications and Writing
Kennedy authored the companion book Drawn to Purpose: American Women Illustrators and Cartoonists (2018), published by the Library of Congress in association with the University of Mississippi Press. The book expanded on the themes of the exhibition and was widely praised for its inclusivity, featuring artists of diverse races, sexual orientations, ages, and political affiliations.
In 2019, Drawn to Purpose won the prestigious Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book, a significant achievement in the comics and graphic arts community. The College Art Association commended the book for its expansive representation of underrepresented voices in the arts.
Kennedy regularly contributes to the LoC's blog, writing about the legacy of artists such as Will Eisner, Herblock, and Anne Mergen. Her articles often explore the intersection of art, politics, and social commentary. She also serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Comic Art, a respected academic publication examining global comic art history and criticism.
Contributions to Library Curation and Inclusivity
In an effort to diversify the LoC's graphic arts collection, Kennedy and her colleague Katherine Blood introduced an innovative method for public contributions. They established a "big box" on-site at the Library of Congress where visitors can deposit items they believe may be of interest for potential acquisition. This initiative has encouraged broader public engagement with the LoC's archival process.
Education and Personal Life
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Kennedy is the daughter of Paul Daniel Hoeprich and Muriel B. Hoeprich. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in the History of Art, as well as a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of California, Berkeley.
She is married to Dane Kennedy, a historian, and resides in Fairfax, Virginia.
Awards and Recognition
- Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book (2019) – Drawn to Purpose
- Praised by the College Art Association for inclusivity and diversity in graphic arts representation.
Legacy and Impact
Martha Kennedy's work has been instrumental in elevating the visibility of female cartoonists and editorial artists in mainstream art history and academic discourse. Her curatorial efforts and publications continue to influence the fields of comics scholarship and visual arts curation, making her a key figure in expanding representation in the arts.
Martha Hoeprich Kennedy (born 1951) is an Eisner award winning author and curator of popular and applied graphic arts at the Library of Congress (LoC).[1][2]
Kennedy has curated many exhibits at the LoC including:
- Enduring Outrage: Editorial Cartoons by Herblock (with Sarah Willett Duke, 2006)[3]
- Timely and Timeless with some of the library's recent acquisitions (2011)[4]
- Drawn to Purpose: American Women Illustrators and Cartoonists (2018)[5]
- Art in Action , about social justice issues (with Katherine Blood, 2019)[6]
Enduring Outrage was favorably reviewed by Archivaria, The Journal of the Association of Canadian Archivists, for just how much the content "remained relevant over the course of fifty years." Kennedy created a companion book for the 2018 exhibit, called Drawn to Purpose, published by the Library of Congress, in association with University of Mississippi Press.[1][5] Kennedy created the exhibit, in part, because she was impressed by the amount of work by women artists in the LOC's collection but also dismayed by the lack of "recognition and appreciation for these creators and their work."[7] She had previously co-curated an exhibition of the work of editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes in 2004.[8]
Kennedy's book won an Eisner Award in 2019 for Best Comics-Related Book and it was noted by the College Art Association as having "inclusive scope" offering "an impressive cross-section of artists of different races, ages, sexual orientations, and political affiliations."[9][10] Kennedy had gotten to host Will Eisner at the Library of Congress in 2003.[11]
In an attempt to broaden the scope of the items that they collect, Kennedy and her colleague from Fine Prints, Katherine Blood, have established a "big box" on site at the library where people can deposit items they think may be of interest to the librarians.[12] Kennedy writes for the LoC's blog on topics such as Will Eisner's legacy, Herb Block's relationship to Picasso, and Anne Mergen’s editorial cartoons.[13][14][15] She serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Comic Art.[16]
Early life and education
Kennedy was born in Boston Massachusetts to Paul Daniel Hoeprich and Muriel B. Hoeprich.[17] Kennedy has a B.A. and an M.A. in History of Art, as well as an MLIS from University of California, Berkeley. She is married to Dane Kennedy and lives in Fairfax, Virginia.[17][18]
References
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