Locus Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (1971) Winner
Leo and Diane Dillon
レオ アンド ダイアン ディロン
Reo ando Daian Diron
Aliases:
Leo Dillon / Diane Dillon / L. & D. Dillon
Profile
- Gender
- Unknown
- Born
- 1933-03-02 （East New York, Brooklyn, New York, United States）
- Died
- 2012-05-26 （United States） age 79
- Nationality
- American
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- None
- Residence History
- East New York, Brooklyn (childhood) (Leo) → Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (late life)
Career
- Occupations
- Illustrator, Children's book illustrator, SF cover artist
- Active Years
- 1956-2012
- Affiliations
- Society of Illustrators
- Memberships
- Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame (1997)
- Influenced By
- Ralph Volman
- Influenced
- Son Lee Dillon
- Nominations
- Hans Christian Andersen Award US nominee 1996
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsons School of Design | — | Art | — | 1953-1956 | United States |
Parsons School of Design
Art
Period:
1953-1956
Year of Graduation:
1956
Country:
United States
Where the couple met and graduated. Leo attended after Navy service.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist | — | — | World Science Fiction Society | winner |
| 1976 | Caldecott Medal | Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears | — | Association for Library Service to Children | winner |
| 1977 | Caldecott Medal | Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions | — | Association for Library Service to Children | winner |
| 1978 | Hans Christian Andersen Award | body of work | イラスト部門 | IBBY | highly commended runner-up |
| 1991 | Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award | Aïda | — | Coretta Scott King Award Committee | winner |
Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist
1971
Organization:
World Science Fiction Society
Result:
winner
Caldecott Medal
1976
Work:
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children
Result:
winner
Caldecott Medal
1977
Work:
Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children
Result:
winner
Hans Christian Andersen Award
1978
Work:
body of work
Category:
イラスト部門
Organization:
IBBY
Result:
highly commended runner-up
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
1991
Work:
Aïda
Organization:
Coretta Scott King Award Committee
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Coretta Scott King Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 22 (1991) Winner
Works
Major Works
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
1975 Picture book 32 pagesA West African folktale explaining why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears through a chain of calamities started by a mosquito in an iguana's ear.
folktalemoral lessonchain reaction
Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions
1976 Picture book 32 pagesAn alphabet book introducing African traditions and attire from Ashanti to Zulu tribes.
African culturediversityethnic attire
Rap a Tap Tap: Here's Bojangles—Think of That!
2002 Picture book 32 pagesA rhythmic picture book celebrating tap dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, written and illustrated by the Dillons.
jazzdanceAfrican American
Aïda
1990 Picture book 32 pagesPicture book adaptation of the opera Aïda.
operaEthiopialove
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- vibrant colorsfusion of traditional and modern stylesseamless collaborative work
- Recurring Motifs
- ethnic motifscultural heritagediversity representation
Health
-
Lung cancer晩年Cause of Leo Dillon's death
Legacy
One of the world's pre-eminent illustrators for young people, winners of consecutive Caldecott Medals (only duo to do so), Leo first Black recipient. Known for vibrant, diverse artwork including SF covers.
Quotes
-
We could look at ourselves as one artist rather than two individuals, and that third artist was doing something neither one of us would do. We let it flow the way it flows when an artist is working by themselves.
Source: Interview (Locus Magazine) (2000)
Trivia
- Created over 100 SF book and magazine covers together in 50+ years
- Leo first Black Caldecott winner
- Diane continued creating after Leo's death
- Son Lee collaborated on several works