Artist Gerald Scarfe to Receive Honorary Doctorate from San Francisco’s Academy of Art University

On Thursday, July 6 San Francisco’s Academy of Art University will present an honorary doctorate to English artist Gerald Scarfe, one of the world’s most famous political cartoonists and caricaturists, whose work has been seen in The Sunday Times and The New Yorker for decades. His artworks reside in the following permanent collections, among others: Tate Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and The Parliamentary Art Collection in London, as well as the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.

“Gerald Scarfe is one of the most important visual voices in the world today,” said Academy of Art University President Dr. Elisa Stephens. “It is with great pride that we will grant our most prestigious honor to him in this event.”

“I am extremely honored to receive this Honorary Doctorate from San Francisco’s Academy of Art,” said Scarfe.

Scarfe is in San Francisco for the opening of San Francisco Art Exchange’s exhibition of twenty original paintings, hand-selected by Scarfe from Pink Floyd’s 1982 masterpiece The Wall, the most valuable collection of rock and roll artwork to ever be offered for sale. The exhibition opens July 9 at SF Art Exchange (458 Geary St, San Francisco, CA).

Among the paintings are the true definitive originals for iconic artworks such as The Scream, Wife With Flaming Hair, Giant Judge & Hammers, The Mother, Education For What? No Jobs!, The Wife’s Shadow, One of The Frightened Ones, The Gross Inflatable Pig, Comfortably Numb, and The Teacher, as well as the massive original storyboard created for the film which incorporates 50 original renderings. For more information on the exhibit of items for sale, visit https://www.sfae.com/.

About Gerald Scarfe:
Known for his work as a cartoonist, stage designer, live-action filmmaker, and animator, Gerald Scarfe is one of the most revered and recognizable cartoonists working today. He has now been political cartoonist for the London Sunday Times for50 years, and worked for The New Yorker for 15 years.

His work regularly appears in many periodicals in the UK and worldwide. His film work includes Walt Disney’s Hercules, the animation sequences for the film of Pink Floyd’s The Wall as well as the live concerts – art that is among the most instantly recognizable and significant in pop culture; he has worked in set design for stage productions of Mozart’s last opera “The Magic Flute” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” He is the author of many books, including Scarfe by Scarfe (Hamish Hamilton-London, 1986). Gerald Scarfe was made a CBE in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

He has also received Honorary Degrees from the University of Dundee and University of Kent, is an Honorary Professor of the University of Dundee and an Honorary Fellow of the London Institute. He has been a member of the Royal Designers for Industry since 1989. Gerald Scarfe regularly gives illustrated talks about his life and work in the UK and around the world.

About Academy of Art University
Academy of Art University is the largest accredited private art and design university in the nation. Founded in 1929, the school offers accredited AA, BA, BFA, BS, B.Arch, MA, MFA, and M.Arch degree programs in more than 30 areas of study, as well as continuing art education, pre-college art experience programs, professional development, certificates, and teacher grants. Classes are available in Acting, Advertising, Animation & Visual Effects, Architecture, Art Education, Art History, Art Teaching Credential, Automotive Restoration, Costume Design, Drone Production, Fashion, Fashion Journalism, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Product Development, Fashion Styling, Fashion Visual Merchandising, Fine Art, Game Development, Game Programming, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design (Transportation, Toy, & Product Design), Interior Architecture & Design, Jewelry & Metal Arts, Landscape Architecture, Motion Pictures & Television, Multimedia Communications, Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media, Photography, Social Media, Studio Production for Advertising & Design, Virtual Reality, Visual Development, Web Design & New Media, Web Development, and Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media. Students can also enroll in flexible online degree programs in most areas of study.

Academy of Art University is an accredited member of WSCUC, NASAD, CIDA (BFA-IAD, MFA-IAD), NAAB (B.ARCH., M.ARCH.) and CTC (California Teacher Credential).

About San Francisco Art Exchange:
San Francisco Art Exchange is known worldwide for record-breaking sales of album cover related artwork, and has represented such revered artworks as the originals for Abbey Road, Meet The Beatles, Rubber Soul, Imagine, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Ummagumma, Animals, Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, The Best of The Doors, Candy-O, and many, many more.