Michael Leunig

Michael Leunig is a well-known Australian cartoonist, writer, and artist, born on June 2, 1945, in Melbourne, Australia. He is celebrated for his unique, whimsical, and often deeply philosophical cartoons, which combine humor with keen social and political commentary. Leunig’s work has become an integral part of Australian culture, appearing regularly in major newspapers such as The Age, and resonating with readers for its thoughtful reflections on life, love, nature, and the human condition.

Leunig’s cartoons are characterized by their simple line drawings, often featuring quirky characters such as "The Duck," who serves as a recurring symbol of innocence and contemplation. His work often explores themes of spirituality, the environment, and the absurdities of modern life, with a tone that is both humorous and profound.

Beyond his cartoons, Michael Leunig has published several books, including collections of his artwork and written works, and has also created animated films. His cartoons are not just humorous but frequently invite readers to reflect on the world around them. He has earned acclaim for his ability to address complex social and political issues with wit and a touch of surrealism, making his work accessible and thought-provoking for audiences of all ages.

Leunig is also a voice for peace and environmental conservation, and his work often critiques consumerism, materialism, and the disconnection of modern life from nature. His cartoons reflect a deep commitment to these values, blending humor with advocacy for a more compassionate, thoughtful world.

Throughout his career, Michael Leunig has been both celebrated and occasionally controversial, especially when tackling sensitive topics. His cartoons are widely admired for their emotional depth, social relevance, and their capacity to inspire reflection.

Articles by the author

In my adolescence, I think I felt very outcast; I felt lonely. I felt great loneliness, and sometimes I wouldn't partake in Christmas, and I would go off and wander in the streets of Melbourne.

Michael Leunig

Who can protest alone? Who dares rise up? It is not easy. One is all alone, and evermore shall be so.

Michael Leunig

A dear friend of my early childhood has worked as an anthropologist in Papua New Guinea for much of her life, and from the tiny island where her main work has been focused, she has brought me many funny and beautiful stories over the years.

Michael Leunig

Art, it seems to me, doesn't need freedom so much as it needs courage and love - some would call it 'soul' or 'Eros.'

Michael Leunig

When I was a boy, my own dad told me in a smiling and wistful way that it's a wise man that knows his own father.

Michael Leunig

It's a consoling notion that death is a very tiny hole, and you need to make yourself very small to get through it. One obviously needs to lighten off, and a rucksack full of bricks or a mantelpiece full of trophies will certainly have to be abandoned - the sooner the better, I say.

Michael Leunig

Easter is not limited to the passion and death of Christ; it also includes the dismal tragedy of life unlived by the many, and all the loss of passion and truth that goes with it.

Michael Leunig

For 13 years, I struggled with education and have only just realised that I was actually struggling to protect myself from it. I was trying to protect my soul.

Michael Leunig

An education system suits some more than others. It can lead you out into life or lead you on a wild goose chase. It can help to make you miserable, or dull and nasty and insipid, or profoundly stupid in the special way that 'brainy' people can be.

Michael Leunig

It is at Easter that Jesus is most human, and like all humans, he fails and is failed. His is not an all-powerful God, it is an all-vulnerable God.

Michael Leunig

Easter is reflecting upon suffering for one thing, but it also reflects upon Jesus and his non compliance in the face of great authority where he holds to his truth - so there's two stories there.

Michael Leunig

I've learned to respect the whimsical.

Michael Leunig

In contemporary art culture, where good looks and clever strategic planning of art careers have become a feature, professional practice may be taught in art schools like a branch of public relations or political science.

Michael Leunig

Like normal people, leftists now have to get up in the morning and earn a living, seeing as the fascists have come down so hard on social welfare fraud, and this is the cruel reality. The good old days are gone, and increasingly, leftists are to be found working in ordinary, proper jobs.

Michael Leunig

I think we live in delusional times, whether it's with a great ability to totally distract ourselves with technology, or with speed and the velocity of life.

Michael Leunig

Practically every technology that is ever invented is touted as being the new savior, the thing that will bring peace and goodwill to the earth, but immediately it falls into other hands who see it as the opportunity to promote the very opposite.

Michael Leunig

There can be many reasons to travel, but wandering into the world for no particular reason is a sublime madness, which in all its whimsy and pointlessness may depict the story of life - and indeed could be a useful model to keep in mind, seeing as so much of life's ambition comes unstuck or leads to nothing much at all.

Michael Leunig

What modern humans need help with is escaping from the despair of politics, commerce and media, escaping from the drabness and oppressiveness of worldly values and seeing through suburban mentality and normal community standards so that they can find some much-needed relief for their wilting souls.

Michael Leunig

The hypocrisy of some is that we like to think of ourselves as sophisticated and evolved, but we're still also driven by primal urges like greed and power.

Michael Leunig

Wisdom may best arise from a humbling reality.

Michael Leunig