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PAUL MADONNA BIO
Paul is the creator of the series All Over Coffee, which ran in the San Francisco Chronicle for twelve years, and the author of seven books, including the Emit Hopper Mystery Series. His second book, Everything is its own reward, won the 2011 NCBA Award for best book, and his sixth, You Know Exactly, was a finalist for the 2022 Golden Poppy Book Awards. His latest book, The Commissions, a riveting mystery set between San Francisco and Amsterdam, was released in hardback in September 2023. Paul’s work ranges from novels to cartoons to large-scale public murals and can be found internationally in print as well as in galleries and museums, including the Oakland Museum of California, the William Blake Association in France, and the San Francisco International Airport. Paul was a founding editor for therumpus.net, has taught drawing at the University of San Francisco, and frequently lectures on creative practice. He holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and was the first (ever!) Art Intern at MAD magazine.
Paul is the author of seven books, All Over Coffee (2007), Everything is its own reward (2011), On to the Next Dream (2017), Close Enough for the Angels (2017), Come to Light (2020), You Know Exactly (2022), and The Commissions (2023). Paul is the creator of three series, All Over Coffee, Small Potatoes, and Quotable City, and the co-creator of the series Spirits of The City with writer Gary Kamiya, featured in the Nob Hill Gazette and collected in the best-selling book Spirits of San Francisco (2020). Paul's drawings and stories have been published in books, newspapers, magazines, and literary journals, by notable publishers such as City Lights Books, Bloomsbury, Graphic Arts, West Margin Press, McSweeney’s, zyzzyva, Alta, the South China Morning Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Examiner, and the Nob Hill Gazette. Paul’s original drawings are exhibited internationally in galleries and museums, and have been included in the collections of institutions such as the Oakland Museum of California, the San Francisco Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the William Blake Association in France. Paul has worked with the San Francisco Arts Commission to produced several public art projects, including the Art on Market Street series and a 40 foot permanent glass installation for the San Francisco International Airport. In addition to public art, Paul has produced a number of unique large-scale murals for private and professional commissions, including a 65 foot installation for Starbucks, a full-wall installation for Google, and several 40 foot site-specific murals for the restaurant chain Tacolicious. Paul has worked with a number of corporate clients including Google, Starbucks, Tacolicious, Goorin Brothers, and Anchor Steam Brewery. Paul holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and was the first (ever!) Art Intern at MAD magazine. He was a founding editor for therumpus.net, has taught drawing at the University of San Francisco, and lectures on creative practice at universities, libraries, and private organizations, including Stanford, Academy of Art, and California College of the Arts. Paul's second book, Everything is its own reward, won the 2011 NCBA Award for best book, and his sixth book, You Know Exactly, was a finalist for the 2022 Golden Poppy Book Awards. Paul is available for private commissions as well as speaking engagements and presentations. 
RECENT PRESS for Paul Madonna: • City Arts & Lectures, September, 2023 • Nob Hill Gazette, August, 2023 • San Francisco Examiner, Sunday, July 3, 2022 • KQED Profile, June 17, 2022
FEATURE: 40 foot permanent glass mural in SFO International Airport 
VIDEO: Paul in his studio, produced by ArtSpan for their VAST series: |
STORE • Shop for fine art prints and original drawings LINKTREE • All Paul Madonna Links EVENTS • No upcoming events at this time MAILING LIST |
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PRAISE for Paul Madonna:
"Absolutely stunning… an all new art form." — 7x7 Magazine “The most gloriously insane mystery I've ever read” — Peter Orner, Maggie Brown & Other Stories “Blown away by Paul Madonna’s Come to Light. Blends a mystery novel with his usual stunning artwork. Highly recommended.” — Mike Krieger, Co-founder of Instagram "A book that can pique the interest of bibliophiles is as precious as a padparadscha sapphire. Here are some such gems." — Publisher’s Weekly (Come to Light) "Deeply satisfying… Madonna’s prose is magnificent" — Foreword Reviews “Paul Madonna has created a gripping and deeply mysterious novel about the nature of artistic creation and the wayward, confounding path of inspiration. It's a gorgeous book, with its words and pictures striking up a dialogue that's sharp, funny, strange, and the fuel for a page turner. I want everyone I know to read it so we can talk about how cool it is. ” — Glen David Gold, Carter Beats the Devil "Miraculously exquisite... dreamy and surprisingly emotional." — Salon.com "Madonna captures snapshots in time as he explores the relationship between image and text... that's so gorgeously rendered in Madonna's precise yet fluid pen-and-ink style, it feels like it could be anywhere and everywhere." — Publisher's Weekly "Paul Madonna is a pen master. His work is difficult to categorize but that he was MAD magazine's first art intern may help explain his ability to capture human experience in its odd fullness." — The Boston Globe "Madonna's detailed but unfussy drawings bear the same human touch as so many of the buildings he depicts... a quality of life, a state of mind, predicated on the luxury of having an existence in which the only dramas to speak of are personal." — Art Practical "When his international images are paired with his sparse, poetic words, the effect is haunting. Though Madonna travels the globe, it's not the famous sites or wonders that catch his attention... and the experience of being in his world is mesmerizing." Top 11 books of 2011 — Oprah.com “Check out Paul Madonna's surreal guide to the city's zeitgeist, a sketchbook of "sideways" cameos in ink-wash drawings of San Francisco's eccentric architecture and streetscapes, captioned with poetry, haiku or overheard conversations." — The Australian "Simply delightful. I really don't like much out there, I really don't, but On to the Next Dream I couldn't put down. It was sharp, clever, honest and maybe the funniest book on eviction ever written." — Bob Eckstein, New York Times bestselling author "About detail, willful eccentricity, an almost rococo approach to line, and a steadfast devotion to art for its own sake, beauty as its own reward. Paul Madonna's work gives itself fully to all of these notions." — Dave Eggers "Madonna has created a kind of San Francisco Realism, details so absurd, cruel, and beautiful that they can only come from our infuriating home. If Charlie Kaufman squatted in an illegal sublet in Armistead Maupin's mind, this would be the lovely tenant." — Joshua Mohr, author of All This Life "The book is fantastic. Of time and tenderness. Beautiful drawings. Beautiful text. Ethereal and serious at once. The book is its own reward." — Maira Kalman, author of The Principles of Uncertainty "Paul Madonna has not only pressed graphic fiction way beyond its present boundaries, he has created a new and stunning art form where the stand-alone brilliant visuals and the hauntingly human words synthesize into a pure and irreducible aesthetic vision. This book taught me something fundamental and true and beautiful about the ineffable thereness and thingness of life. Everything is its Own Rewardis a work of genius." — Robert Olen Butler, author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain “paul Madonna does amazing work, very precise but loose. He puts a lot of thought into waiting for just the right moment to stop looking around. These stripsare a reminder to stop now and then and admire a corner of a room, a window or a rooftop. There are lovely details everywhere, at any time, no matter where you live.” — Tony Millionaire, Maakies “I can’t believe how Paul Madonna can make you feel so mighty to be human at one moment, and then so completely humbled the next. This is my favorite poetry book of the year.” — Beth Lisick "Paul Madonna's On to the Next Dream is bleak, terrifying, hilarious and lovely." — MariNaomi, Turning Japanese "For years I've been intrigued and charmed by Paul Madonna's careful and thoughtful drawings of overlooked nooks and by-ways of San Francisco. In his new book he now combines them with manic, delirious, and increasingly paranoid writings as he struggles with the all-consuming City dilemma of gentrification; of who came first, who gets to stay, which wave of usurpers is more 'real' and deserving than the next, and finally, what happens when someone decides it’s your turn to go. Beautiful and engaging." — Sandow Birk, visual artist “This magnificent book is so many things—it’s illustrated with more than a hundred of Paul’s drawings from Thailand, Japan and China—and in-between those images is a killer literary novel. I have fallen really hard for this book, not only for its compelling characters, but in its themes of identity, love, the creative process, mental illness, escape, loss, how one moves through the world as an artist, and where ideas and creativity lurk.” — Melissa Cistaro, author of Pieces of my Mother |
COMMERCIAL:
Paul Madonna's Anchor Steam Beer label Get a Limited Edition Print HERE
PAST EVENTS:
• SUNDAY, SEPT 3, 2023 City Arts & Lectures KQED Interviewd by Steven Winn 1pm, PST, USA Listen to the program • THURSDAY, SEPT 14 Roll Over Easy BFF.FM With Early Bird & Sequoia 8:45-9:30am, PST, USA Listen to the program • FRIDAY, SEPT 15 THE COMMISSIONS Book Launch, Art Exhibition, and I-Didn’t-Die Party Ritual Cafe 1026 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 7 - 9:30 pm, PST, USA EVENT LISTING TBD • THURSDAY, SEPT 21 THE COMMISSIONS A conversation with Paul The Booksmith 1727 Haight Street San Francisco, CA 7 pm, PST, USA EVENT LISTING • WEDNESDAY, SEPT 27 THE COMMISSIONS Mrs Dalloway's Bookstore 2904 College Ave Berkeley, CA 7 pm, PST, USA EVENT LISTING • THURSDAY, SEPT 28 THE COMMISSIONS Lafayette Library 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd Lafayette, CA 2 pm, PST, USA EVENT LISTING • SATURDAY, SEPT 30 THE COMMISSIONS Book Passage 51 Tamal Vista Blvd Corte Madera, CA 6 pm, PST, USA EVENT LISTING • SUNDAY, OCT 1 THE COMMISSIONS Fabulosa Books 489 Castro Street San Francisco, CA 3:30 pm, PST, USA EVENT LISTING • TUESDAY, OCT 3 THE COMMISSIONS Bookshop West Portal 80 W Portal Ave San Francisco, CA 7 pm, PST, USA EVENT LISTING • SATURDAY, OCT 7 ArtSpan - Cheers to Art Tala Wine 4625 Mission Street San Francisco, CA Time TBD EVENT LISTING TBD • OCT 13 & 14 Workshop Escena University Mexico City, Mexico • WEDNESDAY, OCT 25 THE COMMISSIONS Green Apple Books 1231 9th Ave San Francisco, CA 7 pm, PST, USA EVENT LISTING • Sat & Sun, Nov 18&19 Open Studio Location forthcoming San Francisco, CA • THURS, OCT 27, 2022 Spirits of San Francisco Bookshop West Portal 80 W Portal Ave SF, CA 94127 7 PM, PST, USA REGISTER HERE • SAT & SUN, Oct 22-23 11am - 6pm both days Open Studio SF, CA 94124 • THURS, AUGUST 4, 2022 All Over Coffee 3 Mrs Dalloway's Bookstore 2904 College Ave Berkeley, CA 7 PM, PST, USA • THURS, JULY 21, 2022 Spirits of San Francisco with Gary Kamiya Manny's, San Francisco 6 PM, PST, USA • TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2022 All Over Coffee 3 Book Launch Booksmith, San Francisco 7 PM, PST, USA • WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2020 Paul Talks Writing and Drawing Alameda Free Library, San Francisco 7 PM, PST, USA FREE, Virtual • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020 SPIRITS OF SAN FRANCISCO in conversation with Gary Kamiya Metropolitan Club, San Francisco 11:00 am, PST USA • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 SPIRITS OF SAN FRANCISCO in conversation with Gary Kamiya San Francisco Public Library + Total SF 7:00 pm, PST USA • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2020 SPIRITS OF SAN FRANCISCO in conversation with Gary Kamiya The Battery, San Francisco 6:00 pm, PST USA • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 SPIRITS OF SAN FRANCISCO in conversation with Gary Kamiya West Portal 6:00 pm, PST USA • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020 SPIRITS OF SAN FRANCISCO in conversation with Gary Kamiya Commonwealth Club 3:30 - 4:30 pm, PST USA • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 SPIRITS OF SAN FRANCISCO in conversation with Gary Kamiya Copperfield's 7:00 pm, PST USA • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020 COME TO LIGHT In conversation with Peter Orner Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, VT 4:00pm, PST (7pm EST) USA • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020 SPIRITS OF SAN FRANCISCO Book release with Gary Kamiya City Lights Books, San Francisco, CA 6:00 pm, PST USA • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 COME TO LIGHT In conversation with Dan Harder Mechanic's Institute, San Francisco, CA 5:30 pm, PST USA • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020 ArtSpan SALON 6:30 pm, PST USA • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020 COME TO LIGHT In conversation with Evan Karp Booksmith, San Francisco, CA 6:00 pm, PST USA • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020 SPIRITS OF SAN FRANCISCO With Gary Kamiya California Independent Booksellers 3:00 pm, PST USA • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020 OPEN STUDIO ArtSpan Annual Open Studios 4 - 8 pm, PST USA • THURDAY, JULY 30, 2020 LITQUAKE In Conversation with Peter Orner View recorded interview here 6:00 pm • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018 LITQUAKE Paul Madonna & Glen David Gold Are Drunk What Better Way to End the Festival? The Bindery 1727 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 7:30 pm • FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018 EXHIBITION Association William Blake Lavardac, France • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 START-UP BOOK FAIR Book signing 1599 Tennessee St, San Francisco, CA 2-3 pm • SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2018 EXHIBITION The Written Word Art inspired by books & writing Studio Gallery San Francisco August 2nd - 27th, 2018 • SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2018 GOORIN BROS Paul Madonna X Collection Goorin Bros Hat Shop 1612 Stockton Street North Beach, San Francisco 5 - 7 pm • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018 Talk Comic Art Fest Burlingame Public Library Lane Room 480 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA 7 pm • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018 Comic Art Fest San Mateo Library San Mateo, CA • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017 Signing The Bindery (The Booksmith) 1727 Haight St, San Francisco 7-8 pm • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7th Castro Art Walk Local Take 3979 17th St, San Francisco 6-9 pm • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 Reading & Signing Powell’s City of Books 1005 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 7:30 pm • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 Small Business Saturday Book Passage Ferry Building, #1, San Francisco, CA 11am - 1pm • NOVEMBER 4, 2017 In Conversation with Paul Buhle Wisconsin Book Festival Central Library 201 W. Mifflin Street Madison, WI 7:30 pm • SAT & SUN, OCT 21 & 22, 2017 Open Studios 3 Fish Studios 4541 Irving Street, San Francisco, CA 11:00 am - 6:00 pm • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017 Signing Northern California Independent Booksellers Association San Francisco, CA 6:00 pm • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017 Distinguished Speaker Series Lafayette Library 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 1:00 pm • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017 Master Class Kepler's Books 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 7:00 - 8:30 pm • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017 Reading & Signing Moe's Books 2476 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 7:00 pm • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 In conversation with Andy Weiner Book Passage 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA 7:00 pm • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 Talk CalArts Valencia, CA 1:00 pm • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Signing SFMOMA Bookstore 151 3rd Street, San Francisco 5:30 pm • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 Book Release! The Booksmith, at the Bindery 1727 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 6 - 8 pm |
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