Robert Sabuda

Robert James Sabuda (born March 8, 1965) is a children's pop-up book artist and paper engineer. His innovative designs have made him well-known in the book arts, with The New York Times referring to Sabuda as "indisputably the king of pop-ups" in a 2003 article.[1]

Robert Sabuda
Sabuda in 2014
Sabuda in 2014
BornRobert James Sabuda
(1965-03-08) March 8, 1965
Wyandotte, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican

Early life

Robert Sabuda was born on March 8, 1965, in Wyandotte, Michigan. He was raised in Pinckney, Michigan.[1] His father was a mason and a carpenter, providing Sabuda with an appreciation for precise construction.[2] His mother worked as a secretary for the Ford Motor Company and brought home manila folders that Robert would use to create art projects such as pop-up cards and books.[2]

He attended Pratt Institute in New York City, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in communications design in 1987.[2]

Career

Sabuda's interest in paper engineering was sparked in childhood by reading a version of Cinderella illustrated by Vojtěch Kubašta.[3] He created his first pop-up book at age eight.[2]

His career in book illustration began with an internship at Dial Books for Young Readers while attending Pratt.[4] Initially working as a package designer, he illustrated his first children's book series, Bulky Board Books, in 1987. He began gaining professional recognition in 1994 when he designed his first pop-up books for children, The Christmas Alphabet.[5]

Within the books he has designed, Sabuda has used techniques including:[2]

  • faux stained glass (Arthur and the Sword, 1995)
  • batik (Blizzard's Robe, 1999)
  • papyrus-textured illustrations (Tutankhamen's Gift, 1994)
  • murals (Saint Valentine, 1992)

Recognition

Sabuda works from his studio in New York City and is involved in a wide variety of projects that involve movable paper, collaborating frequently with Matthew Reinhart.[2] Sabuda has been awarded the Meggendorfer Prize for Best Paper Engineering three times by the Movable Book Society.[6] He has created multiple New York Times best-selling children's books and has over five million books in print published in over 25 languages.[7]

Book critic Ted Chapin described Sabuda as a "prolific master of the pop-up book" and "something of an artistic and engineering genius" in The New York Times.[8] A 2011 article in The Wall Street Journal said Sabuda is "a master at making books come to life" and referred to him as "the reigning prince of pop-up books."[9] Sabuda's versions of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2000) and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (2003) have been particularly praised, with graphic designer Steven Heller saying of Alice that "the intelligent paper trickery on each spread is, well, awesome."[10]

Personal life

Sabuda is married to technologist James Talvy.[11] They spend their time in New York City; New Paltz, New York; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[11]

References
  1. Hedges, Chris (December 9, 2003). "PUBLIC LIVES; In Him, Storyteller Meets Architect". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  2. "Artist Profile: Robert Sabuda - The NCCIL". National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  3. Grimes, William (January 30, 2014). "Wizard Who Made Art Jump Off the Page". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  4. "Authors & Illustrators". Candlewick Press. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  5. Kirch, Claire (December 10, 2015). "Four Questions for... Robert Sabuda". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  6. "Awards". Movable Book Society. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  7. Button, Liz (26 February 2019). ""Believe" : Author Robert Sabuda on the Art (and Sale) of Pop-Up Books". American Booksellers Association. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  8. Chapin, Ted (November 14, 2004). "'America the Beautiful,' and 'Liberty's Journey': From Sea to Shining Sea". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  9. Alter, Alexandra (October 1, 2011). "Robert Sabuda: The Reigning Prince of Pop-Up Books". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  10. Heller, Steven (November 16, 2003). "CHILDREN'S BOOKS; Ready for Her Close-Up". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  11. "Biography". Robert Sabuda. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
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