Drexel Presents an Exclusive Collection of Celebrated Author Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Rarely Seen Art

Drexel University will unveil an exclusive collection of more than 20 rarely seen marker drawings by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., offering a fresh perspective on his artistic legacy. The exhibition, “Kurt Vonnegut Jr. as a Visual Artist,” will go on display Friday, March 14 through Saturday, July 19 in the Paul Peck Alumni Gallery (corner of 32nd and Market Streets).

While best known for his literary brilliance, Vonnegut was also a prolific visual artist, and this exhibition celebrates Vonnegut’s artistic legacy while igniting conversations on the power of art to shape more empathetic, inclusive communities. His rarely seen drawings highlight the themes of empathy, resilience and the human condition that permeate both his writing and his artwork.

“It’s deeply meaningful to me that the public has the chance to see Vonnegut’s art,” said Heather Rose, private owner of the drawings and Thomas R. Kline School of Law alum. “He was more than just a writer; he was a restless, inventive artist who saw the world with a sharp eye and a playful hand. Sharing these drawings isn’t just about preserving his legacy, it’s about inviting people to connect with him in a new and unexpected way.”

A generational and counterculture icon, Vonnegut was one of the most celebrated American authors of the second half of the 20th century. During his writing career of over 50 years, he wrote 14 novels and dozens of plays, short stories and essays, some of which were bestsellers and adapted into films. His writing sometimes contained hand-drawn illustrations and other visual art he also created as prints, as shown in this exhibition.

His most renowned work, “Slaughterhouse-Five,” published in 1969, was inspired by his survival of the 1945 Allied firebombing of Dresden, Germany, as a U.S. prisoner of war during World War II. Like many of his other novels, it was a semi-autobiographical work that blended science fiction, black humor and recurring characters to comment on war, technology, death, life and religion. Later in life, he gained a reputation as a wry elder statesman known for confronting his own mortality and commenting on the current issues in American society.

The Paul Peck Alumni Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. To build on the themes of the exhibition, a series of public programs will take place throughout the exhibition’s run. To learn more visit, here.