WASHINGTON, DC.- On Dec. 8, “Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing” will close its successful premiere at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center in Washington, D.C.

The unprecedented exhibition spans more than 60 years and showcases Steadman’s ongoing evolution. It features a selection of 149 original artworks as well as ephemera, including Steadman’s sketchbooks, children’s books, magazines, personal photographs and handwritten notes that tell a fuller story of how the artworks were born.

“Ralph Steadman is well known for his direct and visceral drawing style and for changing and amplifying the face of satire through his illustrations,” said Andrea Lee Harris, the exhibition co-curator. “His art challenges us, teaches us and alters how we see the world. Showcasing Steadman’s genius, skill and imagination, the exhibition offers viewers a glimpse into the artist’s creative force. He has given us all a great gift and raised the bar for the generations following in his footsteps. Steadman’s inspired exhibition delights diehard fans and uninitiated audiences eager to learn more.”


Ralph Steadman, "In the Beginning from Animal Farm", 1994, ink on paper.


The exhibition surveys Steadman’s creative passion and collaborations, from his early years as a student to his political illustrations, social commentary and activism.

“Leslie Richardson, my art teacher, was probably the biggest influence in my life,” Steadman said. “He was such an honest, enlightening and enlightened man. He encouraged me to keep drawing. We would visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum and I would sit and draw. I was never self-conscious about it. He made me so relaxed with it.”

Throughout his career, Steadman has employed various media and styles. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he experimented with printmaking and collage, which reappeared in later works. In 1961, while studying at the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts, he bought the complete contents of a printer’s studio, including a printing press. The printing blocks and moveable type were soon featured in his work and remained a fundamental element in Steadman’s iconography.


And Another Thing installation view. Photo by Greg Staley.

As one of the most influential illustrators and comic artists of the last six decades, Steadman is famous for his long collaboration with journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, notably illustrating “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Their storytelling positioned the topic almost secondary to the personality of the artists and work and gave way to Gonzo journalism, a new way of covering news. The influence of Gonzo journalism is evident in today’s online news sources, editorial pieces, social media, videos, political punditry and podcasts. “Vintage Dr. Gonzo,” a life-size bronze sculpture by Jud Bergeron, is touring with the exhibition.

Beyond Gonzo journalism, political commentary has been a staple of Steadman’s work. The exhibition includes illustrations of American presidents. His portraits of former Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter demonstrate astute political satire that meshes their traits with the scandals that plagued their presidencies. Additionally, Steadman’s use of the high-contrast chiaroscuro technique in “American Melodrama” lampoons a gallery of presidents, ranging from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Reagan, who are depicted as theater performers on stage. The caricatures, their countenances exaggerated with insincere smiles, demonstrate Steadman’s razor-sharp satire.

“It’s essential to have some form of expression within your reach that gives you something to dwell upon,” Steadman stated. “But if I feel something is important, it may not be important to someone else. I don’t want to change anyone’s mind in an aggressive way. I hope they see my drawings, and it makes them think about why I drew it and what opinion I am trying to express.”


Ralph Steadman, “Ink Blot and Sigmund Freud”, 1993, pen and ink on paper, 92 x 59.5 cm.


Steadman has also long been an advocate for environmental issues. The exhibition showcases his passion for preservation through illustrations that appeared in the books “Extinct Boids” (2012), “Nextinction” (2015) and “Critical Critter” (2017), which focus on endangered animals. These works — created with author, conservationist and filmmaker Ceri Levy — gave birth to the Gonzovation Movement. The three books together have come to be known as The Gonzovation Trilogy.

The books also demonstrate Steadman’s mantra, which is always to experiment. He used his environmentally conscious method of dirty water to create drawings for “Critical Critters.”

“I throw dirty water — from the water I wash my brushes in — down onto pure white paper and wait three days, at least, for it to dry,” Steadman explained. “Probably when the drawing or painting is nearing completion, then I do something spontaneous, and I either succeed or it’s buggered! The surprising results and effects encourage me to use my inventive aptitude, and it challenges me to draw something that simply would not be there before. There is nothing more challenging than a white sheet of paper.”


And Another Thing installation view. Photo by Greg Staley.

Works on display include iconic illustrations for all ages. His eye for satire allowed him to imbue literary classics geared toward younger readers with new meaning. His art for masterpieces such as Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” and George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” have become classics of their own. The exhibition also features art from inventive books such as Kurt Baumann’s “Dozy and Hawkeye” and Steadman’s “I, Leonardo,” “The Big I Am,” “The Little Red Computer” and “That’s My Dad.”

Visitors engage with art depicting famous writers and musicians, including Steadman’s more experimental collections such as Paranoids — caricatures of notable figures from history, entertainment and politics — which he created by reworking Polaroid photographs.

The exhibition spotlights the artist’s spontaneity and intense devotion to his craft. “I do not do roughs and go straight in with ink. I just start drawing, and things emerge from the approach,” explained Steadman. “People ask, ‘Aren’t you worried about making a mistake?’ I reply, ‘There are no such things as a mistake. A mistake is an opportunity to do something else!’”

Sadie Williams, director of the Ralph Steadman Art Collection, said “And Another Thing” goes above and beyond to reengage audiences.


Ralph Steadman, “Mao-Miu-Min leapt” 1967, Acrylic on paper, 37 x 26.5 cm. From “The Little Prince and the Tiger Cat,” 1967, written by Mischa Damjan.


“The exhibition shows more of Steadman’s artistic evolution from his roots to the artist who continues to flourish, innovate and be in demand at 88 years old with interest from brands such as Nike, Harley-Davidson and Supreme, with whom he collaborated in the last three years,” she said

“Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing” is accompanied by a full-color, 207-page publication of the same name. Special hardcover and softcover editions are available.
National tour dates still available.

The exhibition will continue to travel and be presented next at Oklahoma State University Museum of Art in Stillwater, Oklahoma (January 21-May 10, 2025); the Bates College Museum of Art in Lewiston, Maine (June 6-October 10, 2025); and the Barry Art Museum at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia (January 29 - June 20, 2027.

Curators: Dates are still available to host this traveling exhibition, which has appeared in the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair. Spring, Summer and Fall 2026 are available as well as Summer 2027. Please contact Andrea Lee Harris, exhibitions coordinator with Ralph Steadman Art Collection, for an exhibition overview or to learn more about becoming a venue for the tour, 714-812-6678 or andreaharris1@mac.com.

Ralph Steadman was born in Wallasey, England in 1936 and is one of his generation’s most prolific and provocative artists. His long collaboration with Hunter S. Thompson redefined journalism with far-reaching and indelible changes in how news is presented. He has illustrated numerous award-winning books, including Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Grapes of Ralph” and “Untrodden Grapes” as well as “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” in collaboration with Thompson, which spawned two film adaptations and contributed to Steadman’s cult status. He also authored inventive books such as “I, Leonardo” and “The Big I Am.” He is an active artist today and continues to influence artists from around the globe.

The Ralph Steadman Art Collection

The Ralph Steadman Art Collection (RSAC) was founded in 2010 to promote the work of iconic British artist Ralph Steadman. RSAC ensures Steadman’s work is exhibited and reproduced to the highest standard, working closely with the artist on exhibitions, collaborative licensing and design projects. RSAC has enjoyed partnerships with the fashion house Alexander McQueen, urban fashion brands Vans and Supreme and the Royal Shakespeare Company, among others. As one of his generation’s most highly regarded cartoonists and illustrators, Steadman continues to influence artists worldwide.