Nancy Ohanian, Pilesgrove, NJ based artist with “American Culture”, 2020, Digital, 5 x 5.5 inches in “Deadlocked and Loaded”. I’ve always loved Ohanian’s illustrations and even more so because she is such a gentle and kind soul yet her art throws a knockout punch. Ohanian is always on the cutting edge of what is happening politically and turns it into works of art that are both disturbing but so true and spot on. Call me naïve, but I’m still astonished how much power the NRA holds over American politicians. I guess, as always—just follow the money stream.
Nancy Ohanian says, “American Culture represents a history of gun violence in the U.S. As politicians and the gun industry lobby keep weapons companies profiting, they promote romantic myths of American historical frontier and gangster legends. Gun ownership has become cool to some, and a symbol of strength to others. My image represents this uninformed cultural frame of reference mindlessly modeled to children that keeps violence alive in America.”
Nancy Ohanian is a syndicated editorial cartoonist. She was the 2018 recipient of the National Press Foundation’s Clifford K. and James T. Berryman Award for Editorial Cartoons. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and other news publications since 1974. Nancy’s too-edgy-for-syndication cartoons are published regularly at Downwithtyranny.com.
The Washington Post’s Mark Jenkins said, “Ohanian’s wit is keen….her work is worth seeing just for its visual inventiveness.” The work has been exhibited throughout the US., featured in advertising campaigns, books, and magazines including Print, American Artist, TV Guide, Graphis/Switzerland and National Geographic.
Nancy’s social justice posters are in the permanent collection of the Center for the Study of Political Graphics in Los Angeles. She is a member of the National Cartoonists Society and the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Nancy contributes her cartoons to non-profit publications and organizations that raise awareness of issues important to the public interest. She has lectured at UCLA, Cal State University/Northridge, Cal State/LA, Otis Parsons and currently teaches in the Department of Art at Rowan University.
Learn more at nancyohanian.com
