Nunu Fine Art New York is proud to present Darcy & Darcy: In Monochrome, a two-person exhibition featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Thomas F. Darcy (1932-2000) and his son, contemporary New York-based fine artist Brad Darcy. Highlighting their respective sociopolitical and aesthetic themes, the show also offers insights into the artists’ individual styles, production methods, and editing processes.

The selection comprises over 120 of Tom Darcy’s original editorial cartoons from the postwar decades, covering topics ranging from the Vietnam War to racism to nuclear arms. Meanwhile, the gallery’s newly opened lower-level exhibition space will feature over 50 of Brad Darcy’s black-and-white works on paper as well as several experimental videos depicting his spontaneous “automatic drawing” sessions.  

Darcy & Darcy: In Monochrome presents work by two artists from different generations with markedly different personalities engaged in a thematic and formal dialogue. They are united by their shared engagement with enduring societal issues and their concise portrayals, employing simple black lines on white paper to distill complex subjects to their essence. 

Driven by the plight of the less fortunate, Tom Darcy won critical esteem for his highly original and impeccably sharp perception of the contemporary milieu. His witty political commentary spurred viewers to actively reflect upon the issues he addressed and to formulate their own conclusions. Although he never shied away from challenging the status quo, Darcy gained admiration from supporters and opponents alike, as evidenced by countless communiqués of encouragement from various politicians and government agencies he criticized. 

Over the past 20 years, Brad Darcy has created an intimate exploration of human consciousness through automatic drawing. Spontaneously applying ink to paper for 20 to 40 seconds, he generates whimsical images documenting his multifaceted thoughts and feelings.

Darcy’s drawings are characterized by minimal yet deeply emotive lines and forms that capture a particular moment of perception. The intentional sparseness leaves much to the viewer’s imagination, occasionally directed by poignant captions. Working at the border between the external and internal worlds, Brad Darcy brings a distinct visual humor to bear on his love for nature and his fascination with what it is to be human. 

Darcy & Darcy: In Monochrome sparks a dynamic dialogue between two highly creative individuals, each navigating the complexities of their respective time, and offers a nuanced exploration of our collective realities, both outer and inner.

ABOUT TOM DARCY & BRAD DARCY

Tom Darcy (1932-2000) was a political cartoonist from Brooklyn, New York, with a prolific career spanning four decades. In 1956 he graduated from the Cartoonists and Illustrators School, later known as the School of Visual Arts, and first worked in advertising before shifting, after two years, to editorial cartooning at Newsday. Darcy was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1970 for his penetrating works addressing the Vietnam War and racial discrimination, followed by the Best Cartoon on Foreign Affairs Award in 1970 and 1973, a Meeman Conservation Award in 1972 and 1974, and a National Headliner Award in 1974. 

Brad Darcy (b. 1969) is a contemporary fine artist based in Brooklyn. He studied fine art and computer art at the School of Visual Arts from 1993 to 1997, following a three-year stint at the Arts Students League, where he was awarded a Merit Scholarship. Darcy has shown in numerous international group exhibitions in the United States, Germany, The Philippines, and Taiwan. 

IMAGE CAPTION

Brad Darcy, Head First, 2017-22, ink and pencil on paper, 12 x 9 inches | 30.5 x 22.9 cm.
Tom Darcy, Political Cartoon 1012, 1972, ink on illustration board/photostat, 20 x 15 inches|50.8 x 38.1 cm.