PARK SLOPE TIMES INTERVIEW
BROOKLYN MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
SEAN G. QUALLS
Sean Qualls finds inspiration everywhere. Growing up in the 70s and 80s in New Jersey, his family didn't have much money for art supplies, but he made the best of what was available: discarded paper and blank end pages from old books. Sometimes he even used walls, much to his mother's chagrin. Some of his earliest inspirations were the crayons and coloring books his mom would buy for him and his older sister, drawing and handwriting competitions with classmates, and an illustrated bible he received for Christmas in the 2nd grade. He moved to Brooklyn to attend art school at Pratt Institute. After two years, he dropped out but continued to educate himself while working full-time at the Brooklyn Museum.
Sean's books and illustrations often explore history and non-fiction. His art celebrates the joy and resilience of humanity while building bridges to preferred realities. Melding together elements of the past and the present with patterns and advertising graphics, he examines ideal futures through reclaiming personal narratives.
He has illustrated many books for young readers, including titles by Questlove, Toni Morrison and Spike Lee. In addition, he has created cover art for books by Octavia Butler and Claude McKay. His authorial debut, Fros, Fades & Braids, was published with HarperCollins in 2026. He lives and works in Brooklyn, where you can also find him DJing on occasion.
Sean's books and illustrations often explore history and non-fiction. His art celebrates the joy and resilience of humanity while building bridges to preferred realities. Melding together elements of the past and the present with patterns and advertising graphics, he examines ideal futures through reclaiming personal narratives.
He has illustrated many books for young readers, including titles by Questlove, Toni Morrison and Spike Lee. In addition, he has created cover art for books by Octavia Butler and Claude McKay. His authorial debut, Fros, Fades & Braids, was published with HarperCollins in 2026. He lives and works in Brooklyn, where you can also find him DJing on occasion.
contact [email protected] for all book inquiries
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EXHIBITIONSOriginal Art Show / Society of Illustrators, New York, NY - 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 2011, 2008, 2006 Inner Victories / Established Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, October 2024 NYC: This Is Now / West Chelsea Contemporary, Brooklyn, NY, January-February 2023 Art Market Hamptons / Sag Harbour, NY, August 2021 Magic Doesn't Sleep / Established Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, April 2021 American Illustration 36 & 35 Melted City 4, Blanc Gallery, Philippines, Rhode Island School of Design, ISB Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island The Shape of Sound: The Picture Book Art of Sean Qualls / Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY Nov. 2016-Jan. 2017 Panorama: Revisions of landscapes Eastfield College- H100 Gallery Mesquite, TX Oct. 2016 The Case for Loving Pop-Up Show / Open Source Gallery, Brooklyn, NY - December 2014 A Brief History of Things Seen Only in Shadows: published and unpublished work by Sean Qualls, Translations Art Gallery, Canton, OH Nov 2014 & Massillon Museum, Massillon, OH Jan-March 2015 Dime Bag Show / The End is Near, Brooklyn, NY - Fall 2014 Dime Bag4 / Giant Robot, New York, NY - 2011 Panoram Project 3 Jonathan Levine Gallery Sept. -Oct. 2008 |