The late Barbara Shermund, an early and fiercely independent cartoonist for The New Yorker, is being rediscovered in what some are calling an extraordinary revival. Known for her sharp wit and depictions of strong-willed women, Shermund’s prominence faded over time, and after her passing in a New Jersey nursing home in 1978, her ashes went unclaimed for decades. It was only in 2019, following a family history inquiry by her niece, Amanda Gormley, that Shermund’s story began to resurface.
Through dedicated research, assistance from Caitlin McGurk, curator at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, and a GoFundMe campaign, Shermund’s ashes were finally interred alongside her mother in San Francisco. Now, her life and work are back in the spotlight, offering insight into one of cartooning’s early “bad girls.”
Shermund was born in 1899 in San Francisco. Raised by well-off parents, she had access to art education at the California School of Fine Arts. However, her mother’s death in 1918 marked a turning point. Feeling estranged as her father remarried, Shermund moved to New York City in 1924 to build her career.
In New York, Shermund joined The New Yorker as one of its first female cartoonists and illustrators. Her nearly 20-year tenure produced hundreds of cartoons and illustrations, including nine cover designs. Her work often portrayed independent women who drank, smoked, and challenged conventional roles—an embodiment of First-wave feminism and flapper culture.
The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio is currently showcasing her work in the exhibition Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund. Running through December 29, 2024, the exhibit features Shermund’s work, from early etchings to original New Yorker covers to her syndicated Shermund’s Sallies series.
Shermund’s distinctive, expressive line work and vibrant scenes invite viewers to appreciate her mastery beyond the magazine format, revealing her unique place at the intersection of cartooning and fine art.
The exhibition coincides with the release of Caitlin McGurk’s biography, Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund, published by Fantagraphics Books. McGurk will celebrate the book’s release and raise funds for the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum with a signing event on November 14 at Seventh Son Brewery in Columbus, Ohio. For more details, visit decartsohio.org.