Pat Oliphant: A New Way to Draw the World

Pat Oliphant, a 90‑year‑old cartoonist, died on July 13 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
He began his career after moving from Australia to Colorado in 1964 and joining The Denver Post. While most of his contemporaries worked in compact, square panels, Oliphant pioneered long, horizontal frames—resembling a movie screen—that allowed him to depict motion from left to right and weave jokes that clarified his points.

Innovative Style

• Horizontal panels: conveyed motion and narrative flow.
• Tiny penguin “Punk”: placed in each corner, offering a secondary voice on the same topic.
• Humor + Insight: his cartoons were not only funny but also carried sharp political commentary.

Career Highlights

• Pulitzer Prize: won early in his career.
• The Washington Star (1975–1981): daily front‑page cartoons until the paper’s closure.
• Universal Press Syndicate: syndicated worldwide after 1981.
• Retirement (2015): moved to Santa Fe, where he painted and sculpted caricatures.

Life Beyond the Desk

• Pilot: flew over Denver and surrounding mountains to gather inspiration.
• Regular visits: continued to frequent Denver’s newsroom and the Sportsmans Bar even after relocating to Washington, D.C.
• Influence: inspired by and associated with WWII cartoonist Bill Mauldin, who lived nearby.

Legacy

Pat Oliphant left an indelible mark on editorial cartooning, proving that humor combined with innovative formats can reshape political and cultural discourse.