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Maurice Sendak: A Legacy Exhibition

While children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak will always be known for his classic book Where the Wild Things Are, he produced nearly 10,000 works of art and related material. In the early 1970s, Sendak chose the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to be the repository for this work. They hold everything from his original artwork and rare sketches to never-before-seen working materials.

The Rosenbach reached out to us to share their newest exhibition for the late author called Maurice Sendak: A Legacy. It will open on June 10th, or what would have been Sendak's 84th birthday. (In celebration of Sendak's legacy, the Rosenbach will offer free admission to the museum on June 10th.)

The year-long exhibition will feature 65 objects, honoring Sendak's 65-year career in a salon-style “rumpus on the walls” type display. It will be the most comprehensive exhibition of Sendak's work ever on view to the public. This incredible retrospective will include prints, acrylic paintings, dummy books, publisher's proofs, manuscripts and more.

Here's an exclusive sample of what you'll find.

Above: Final drawing for Chicken Soup with Rice. Pen and ink. Maurice Sendak, 1962, all rights reserved. Courtesy Rosenbach Museum & Library.


Final drawing for The Sign on Rosie's Door. Maurice Sendak, 1960, all rights reserved. Courtesy Rosenbach Museum & Library.


Storyboard for Alligators All Around. Pen and ink, watercolor. Maurice Sendak, 1962, all rights reserved. Courtesy Rosenbach Museum & Library.


Final drawing for Outside Over There. Pencil, pen and ink, watercolor. Maurice Sendak, 1978, all rights reserved. Courtesy Rosenbach Museum & Library.


Final drawing for Really Rosie: Starring the Nutshell Kids. Pen and ink, watercolor. Maurice Sendak, 1975, all rights reserved. Courtesy Rosenbach Museum & Library.


Final drawing for Brundibar. Pen and ink, pencil, colored pencil, watercolor. Maurice Sendak, 2003, all rights reserved. Courtesy Rosenbach Museum & Library.


Final drawing for Where the Wild Things Are. Pen and ink, watercolor. Maurice Sendak, 1963, all rights reserved. Courtesy Rosenbach Museum & Library.

Rosenbach Museum & Library website

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