Ezra Jack Keats

Ezra Jack Keats (Jacob Ezra Katz; 1916 – 1983) was an artist and author of children’s books from the USA, who was best known for introducing multiculturalism into mainstream children’s literature of the USA. His art style was unique in its simplicity and lushness, and he developed the use of collage as a medium for illustration. He used a collage technique along with gouache to create rich scenes of urban life. His illustrations included echoes of “fine art” styles such as Cubism and Abstract Art. Keats was one of the first children’s book authors to use an urban setting for his stories. His work was inspired by Asian art and haiku poetry, and he used lush colours in his paintings and collages. He was often more intent on capturing a mood than developing a plot.