Harvey Kurtzman’s brainchild made its debut as a comic book in 1952 before switching to a magazine format in 1955. Over the ensuing years, MAD has featured artwork by many of the most talented cartoonists in the industry.
This exhibition showcases original drawings and paintings by many of the top MAD contributors, including Harvey Kurtzman, Bill Elder, Jack Davis, Wally Wood, Norman Mingo, Al Jaffee, Serio Aragonés, Don Martin, Mort Drucker, and Tom Richmond. Also on display are vintage MAD magazines and memorabilia branded with the gap-toothed mug of its iconic mascot, Alfred E. Neuman.
MAD’s cynical take on popular culture, politics, entertainment, and celebrity influenced every type of modern media, from Zap Comix to Saturday Night Live. Under the supervision of publisher William Gaines and editor Al Feldstein, MAD reached a peak circulation of 2.4 million in 1974. The future of the magazine is now in good hands. When it was announced in 2107 that Bill Morrison was taking over from longtime editor John Ficarra, he promised, “I’m dedicated to upholding the high standards of absurd and irreverent humor that the public has come to expect from MAD.”
Curated by Brian Walker
Brian Walker
