Seymour Chwast

Seymour Chwast (born August 18, 1931) is an American graphic designer, illustrator, and type designer.

Biography Chwast was born in the Bronx, New York City He joined the school's elite art squad (alumni include Gene Federico and Alex Steinweiss). A portfolio was required for entry; he and the club would create on demand including posters, banners, and other materials for school events and social causes. That same year, he published his first illustration (a drawing of himself dancing at a party) in the “It’s All Yours” issue of Seventeen. After both of them were fired in 1954, they founded Push Pin Studios along with Milton Glaser. Reynold Ruffins would join them shortly thereafter. The bi-monthly publication The Push Pin Graphic, a product of their collaboration, was launched in 1957. Often referred to as "the left-handed designer," Chwast's unique graphic design melded social commentary and a distinctive style of illustration which he refers to as his "Roxy Style". in New York City.

In 1970, he met Paula Scher during an interview she had with him at Pushpin while she was still a senior at Tyler School of Art. They married in 1973 and divorced five years later. They remarried in 1989. Chwast has two daughters from a previous relationship, Pamela and Eve. He is the font designer of Chwast Buffalo, Fofucha, Loose Caboose NF, and Weedy Beasties NF. He is a member of Alliance Graphique International (AGI).In 2023 he was awarded a National Design Award as a Design Visionary by the Smithsonian Design Museum in recognition of his work.

The newest show: "Yes, No, and WOW: The Push Pin Studios Revolution" is the latest retrospective of the group's work spanning the 50s into the 21st Century. It opened October 5, running through December 30, 2025 at The Church in Sag Harbor New York. This exhibit includes posters, books, vinyl record covers, and other objects from the six member artists: Seymour Chwast, Paul Davis, Milton Glaser, James McMullan, Reynold Ruffins and Ed Sorel.

Fonts designed Artone (1964, Photo Lettering Inc.) Blimp (1970, Photo Lettering Inc.) 1983 – Art Directors Hall of Fame 1985 – American Institute of Graphic Arts Medal 1992 – Honorary Doctorate, Parson's School of Design 1997 – Masters Series, School of Visual Arts 2011 – Inkpot Award 2023 – National Design Award, Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Works Poster Man : 50 Years of Iconic Graphic Design (by Seymour Chwast), Schiffer Publishing, 2021, Docteur Dolittle (Sztajn Lili, Seymour Chwast, Lili Sztajn, Philippe Bretelle), Helium livres illustrés (French Edition), 2018 At War with War: 5000 Years of Conquests, Invasions, and Terrorist Attacks, An Illustrated Timeline (by Seymour Chwast, Victor Navasky), Seven Stories Press, 2017 The Pancake King (By Phyllis La Farge, Illustrated by Seymour Chwast, Ate by Seth Swerine), Princeton Architectural Press, 2016 About Diabetes: Your Guide to Good Health (by Learning About Diabetes Inc., Seymour Chwast), Learning About Diabetes Inc., 2016 Dr. Dolittle (by Seymour Chwast), Creative Editions, 2015 Still Another Number Book: A Colorful Counting Book (by Seymour Chwast, Martin Moskof), Dover Publications, 2014 Still Another Alphabet Book: A Colorful Puzzle & Game Book (by Seymour Chwast, Martin Moskof), Dover Publications, 2014 Tall City, Wide Country (by Seymour Chwast), Creative Editions, 2013 Get Dressed! (by Seymour Chwast), Harry N. Abrams, 2012 Bobo's Smile (by Seymour Chwast), Creative Editions, 2012 The Odyssey (by Seymour Chwast), Bloomsbury USA, 2012 Graphic Style: From Victorian to New Century (by Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast), Harry N Abrams Inc, 2011 The Canterbury Tales (by Seymour Chwast), Bloomsbury USA, 2011 Dante's Divine Comedy: A Graphic Adaptation (by Seymour Chwast), Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2010 Seymour: The Obsessive Images of Seymour Chwast (by Seymour Chwast, Steven Heller, Paula Scher), Chronicle Books, 2009 Had Gadya: A Passover Song (by Seymour Chwast, Michael Strassfeld), Square Fish, 2009 Illustration: A Visual History (by Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast), Harry N Abrams, 2008 She Sells Sea Shells: World Class Tongue Twisters (by Seymour Chwast), Applesauce Press, 2008 The Push Pin Graphic: A Quarter Century of Innovative Design and Illustration (by Seymour Chwast, introduction by Martin Venezky), Chronicle Books, 2004 Graphic Style: From Victorian to Digital (by Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast), Harry N Abrams, 2001 Traffic Jam (by Seymour Chwast), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1999 The Twelve Circus Rings (by Seymour Chwast), Harcourt Children's Books, 1996 Goodbye, Hello : Everything You Need to Help Your Child When Your Family Moves, Parenting Packs (by Seymour Chwast) Harry N Abrams Inc, 1997 Mr. Merlin and the Turtle (by Seymour Chwast), Greenwillow, 1996 Jackets Required (by Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast), Chronicle Books, 1995 Bra Fashions By Stephanie (by Seymour Chwast), Warner Books, 1994 The Alphabet Parade (by Seymour Chwast), Voyager Books, 1994 Graphic Style: From Victorian to Post-Modern (by Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast), Harry N Abrams, 1994 Just Enough Is Plenty: A Hanukkah Tale (by Barbara Diamond Goldin and Seymour Chwast), Viking Kestrel, 1988 Art Against War: Four Hundred Years of Protest in Art (by D. J. R. Bruckner, Seymour Chwast, Steven Heller), Abbeville Press, 1984 Paper Pets: Make Your Own 3 Dogs, 2 Cats, 1 Parrot, 1 Rabbit, 1 Monkey (by Seymour Chwast), Harry N Abrams Inc 1993 Trylon and Perisphere: 1939 New York World's Fair (by Barbara Cohen, Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast), Harry N Abrams Inc, 1989 Italian Futurism & Art Deco (Design & Style, No. 4) (by Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast), Mohawk Paper Mills/The Pushpin Group, 1988 Sam's Bar (by Seymour Chwast), Doubleday, 1987 New York Observed: Artists and Writers Look at the City, 1650 to the Present (by Barbara Cohen (ed.), Seymour Chwast (ed.), Steven Heller(ed.)), Harry N Abrams Inc, 1987 Happy birthday, Bach (by Peter Schickele, Seymour Chwast), Doubleday, 1985 The Left-Handed Designer (by Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast), Harry N Abrams, 1985 The Art of New York (by Seymour Chwast, Steven Heller), Harry N. Abrams, 1983 Amazing Magical Jell-O Desserts (by Seymour Chwast, Arnold Rosenberg), General Foods Corporation, 1977 Esquire Party Book (by Scotty & Ronnie; Esquire Editors Welch), Esquire/Harper & Row, 1965