5 Years in the New Yorker

and a special event!

5 years ago today, my first cartoon was published in the New Yorker!

I had just gone back to my old law firm after an unsuccessful six-month attempt at being a part-time artist, and was feeling pretty permanently tired and defeated.

Feb 6, 2020

My publication in the New Yorker marked the start of a shaky-feeling new year where I had once again resolved to do Everything At The Same Time. Of course, in the months that followed, we all went into lockdown:

~hell~

I started pitching cathartic Daily Cartoons:

March 24, 2020

And, due to a number of factors, including “a well-timed three-book illustration deal,” “catastrophic burnout” and “the realization that maybe life is too short to suffer endlessly,” I was able to shift into full-time cartooning. And here we are.

self portrait (2025)

This five year anniversary happens to coincide with the New Yorker’s 100th birthday. The many centenary events around town include a panel at the Society of Illustrators in March that I’m lucky to be a part of.

The panel is part of the Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration Exhibition (which I’m also in!) and I’m going to be appearing on it with cartoon editor Emma Allen and brilliant fellow cartoonists Liza Donnelly (who also curated the exhibition) and Asher Perlman.

I’m sounding really matter-of-fact here but if you had told me in February 2020 that in five years I would be doing THIS, and that I would have as peers (and FRIENDS) such brilliant, hilarious, generous artists, I would have punched you in the face because it would have seemed like a really cruel and impossible joke. Most of the time I cannot believe that this is what I get to do with my life, and due to the time warp that was the pandemic, I 100% do not believe that it’s been this long.

Nov 2019 --> Oct 2024

I’m forever grateful to the New Yorker and its editors for giving my cartoons a home and for believing in my work. Aiming to keep the dream alive as long as possible.

xo Zoe