Society Of Illustrators 125 Years

125 Years of Illustration is the centerpiece exhibit of the Society of Illustrators' 125th anniversary celebration, at the Society's Museum of American Illustration. Founded on February 1, 1901, by nine artists with the mission "to promote generally the art of illustration and to hold exhibitions from time to time," the Society is marking this milestone with a year-long slate of special exhibitions, programming, and events. The exhibit combines selections from the Society's Permanent Collection with works from medal winners of the Illustrators Annual over the past 25 years, tracing the evolution of the field from its earliest days to the present. The exhibition traces a living lineage that moves fluidly between past and present, presenting works that span a broad sweep of illustration history — from early 20th-century masters whose images defined visual culture in magazines and books, to contemporary artists who continue to reshape the field through new forms, voices, and technologies. It features contemporary artists, competition medalists, and works from past shows displayed alongside classic illustrators, and includes not only traditional illustration but also comics and animation cels.