Keeping it Loose: Peter de Sève and Rebecca Guay in Conversation
December 12 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$10.00 – $15.00
Join celebrated illustrator Peter de Sève and artist Rebecca Guay for an engaging conversation about de Sève’s two recently published collections: Local Fauna – The Art of Peter de Sève (Abrams Books) and The Visitor and Other Drawings (Huginn et Muninn).
Local Fauna highlights de Sève’s polished, finished illustration work, while The Visitor delves into his more spontaneous, off-the-cuff sketches. Together, de Sève and Guay will explore the creative tension between structured assignments and the spark of artistic spontaneity, offering unique insights into the artistic process.
A limited number of signed copies of both titles will be available for purchase at the SI shop during the event. The event will conclude with a reception on the third floor with a cash bar.
Peter de Sève’s work spans four decades and various media, including magazines, books, television commercials, Broadway posters, and character designs for animated feature films. He is perhaps best recognized for his many covers for The New Yorker Magazine (46 covers to date) and his character designs for the blockbuster Ice Age franchise (Scrat is a veritable international celebrity). De Sève has also contributed to such films as Finding Nemo, Robots, The Little Prince and Arthur Christmas to name only a few. His many distinctions include the prestigious Hamilton King Award from the Society of Illustrators, and an Daytime Emmy Award for best character design in a television show (Sesame Street). In 2016 he was inducted into the Society of Illustrators’ Hall of Fame, that organization’s highest honor. Recent clients include Netflix, Disney Feature Animation, Warner Brothers Animation and Simon and Schuster. Collections of his work include Local Fauna-The Art of Peter de Sève (Abrams Books) and The Visitor and Other Drawings (Huginn et Muninn).
Photo by Nina Wurtzel
Rebecca Léveillé Guay is a contemporary artist known for her figurative works that blend art historical influences, magical surrealism, and contemporary cultural imagery. Formerly celebrated as an illustrator in the 1990s and early 2000s, she transitioned from commercial work to focus on personal and gallery painting, creating pieces that explore sensuality, the female gaze, and cultural mythologies. Her work has been exhibited in prominent galleries and museums nationwide, including the Delaware Art Museum, Jonathan Levine Gallery, and Corey Helford Gallery, and was featured in the 2020–2021 Bennett Prize national museum tour. Léveillé Guay’s recent solo show, The Queen of Mars (2023), garnered praise from Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz. She works primarily in New York City.
Photo by Scott Bakal
