Ed Young’s Bright Worlds

For over 60 years, Ed Young (1931–2023) invigorated the world of children’s books through intimate storytelling, inventive artistry, and potent emotionality. This first U.S. retrospective features original artwork from 15 of his most significant projects—focusing on works drawn from his personal story and Chinese folktales—alongside a selection of his sketchbooks, family photos, and personal effects. Young achieved distinction as a beloved storyteller and illustrator who challenged younger audiences with pictorial and moral complexity. He was a towering figure in children’s literature, reaching wide audiences while earning the field’s top honors. His retelling of the Chinese “Little Red Riding Hood,” Lon Po Po, introduced generations of children to Chinese folklore and won the Caldecott Medal; he also received two Caldecott Honors for earlier works. Across his career, he garnered numerous accolades, including multiple selections for The New York Times’ “10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books” list. The exhibition traces Young’s family life in Shanghai, where he was the fourth youngest of five children. As a teenager, he and his brother were sent to live in Hong Kong to flee the civil war in China. He immigrated to America for college, eventually earning an art degree from the ArtCenter School in Los Angeles, and then moved to New York. “I set out with $20 borrowed money in my pocket to bet my life in New York City,” he wrote. After being laid off from an advertising studio, he submitted sketches to children’s book publisher Ursula Nordstrom, who hired him to illustrate The Mean Mouse and Other Mean Stories (1962), launching a career that would span over 100 books. His most memorable projects were deeply personal. Ed Young’s Bright Worlds guides viewers through key moments of his life and oeuvre with original artwork from The House Baba Built (2011), about his childhood in Japan-occupied Shanghai; Voices of the Heart (1997), exploring Chinese culture through the relationship between writing, image and his lifelong tai chi practice; My Mei Mei (2006), on adopting his daughters; and Bright World (2024), a book published posthumously in China, meditating on the cyclical nature of life. “So many of us grew up on Ed Young’s art and storytelling,” said Herb Tam, MOCA’s Chief Curator. “This exhibition will reveal what went into crafting masterworks of the children’s book form. Visitors will be enchanted by his fluent handling of media—from pastel and cut paper to pen, ink, and collage—and inspired by his story as a resourceful immigrant striving to make his mark in a creative field.” “As a father of three, I’ve seen firsthand how children’s books shape the way we see the world,” said Michael Lee, MOCA’s President. “The imagery and storytelling stay with us—they become part of our family conversations, our imaginations, and even the way we share stories later in life. It’s a special honor to explore the life and mind of Ed Young, whose work has inspired generations. Through this exhibition, we not only celebrate his extraordinary achievements but also revisit how deeply his art was shaped by his journey as a Chinese American—reflecting his early life in China and the graceful balance he found as a lifelong practitioner of tai chi.” Ed Young’s Bright Worlds is part of MOCA’s Luminaries for America250, a yearlong celebration of Chinese American historymakers at the Semiquincentennial. For more about the Luminaries project, visit https://www.mocanyc.org/2026/01/02/moca-luminaries-for-america250/ Photo of Ed Young by Sean Kernan