Pioneering works of natural history illustration on view at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Interest in the natural world over the course of the 19th-century generated an enormous visual record produced by artists and naturalists alike. Fascination with detail forms a constant thread, even as debates raged over the best way to display, exhibit, and record “discoveries.” Feathers, Fins, and Fur: Natural History Illustration of the 19th-Century privileges the works of Alexander Wilson and John James Auduboun, and introduces a range of lesser known illustrators. Additionally, the exhibition draws from the institution’s library collection to explore preservation of natural artifact through print.

On view through May 23, 2010.

Above -  H. Patterson, Sebastes Marmoratus, 1856.

Last year, I had the great pleasure of working on a project with Maira Kalman. She is an artist of truly unique vision, as talented an illustrator as she is a story teller. Kalman’s career is impressive both for output and the number of people she has touched.

Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations of a (Crazy) World is her first museum survey. Along with illustrations, the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia’s exhibition will include an installation of ladders, chairs, and “many tables of many things” – an introduction, if you will, to Kalman’s world. A fully illustrated catalog complements the exhibition.

The exhibition opens today and runs through June 6, 2010. The ICA is located at 118 S. 36th Street in Philadelphia, PA.

Further examples of Kalman’s illustration after the jump.

Wondering through the Conran shop last Sunday I spotted The Story of the Bicycle mug. Having been forced to read Ladybird books for hours on end as a youth, the illustrations have an instant hook. The other benefit of these, aside from nostalgia, is size. The mugs are massive and perfect for those us with enormous caffeine requirements (i.e. Jeff and I). As ridiculous as it may seem, these bloody mugs really work for me. Can’t decide if I should be pleased or embarrassed. Yet, on the off chance that someone else gets some joy from them, I’ve decided to share.

The story of the bicycle, football and cricket are included in the new Ladybird Archive Collection. They are a decent gift… especially for those who were required to prove literacy by reading allowed these vary books. Available from Conran.

Artist Maira Kalman’s work for 21stcenturyabe.org appears in today’s New York Times. The story traces her personal love affair with Lincoln through visits to the Rosenbach Museum & Library, a trip to Springfield, IL and talks with noted scholars, including Douglas Wilson. A real gem, and a wonderful distraction on a Friday afternoon (much like 21stcenturyabe.org).

Illustrator, typographer, set designer. Andrew MacGregor does it all. He’s most recent commission (above) is for the Guardian’s new job advice campaign. He’s also worked for Uniqlo, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar and The Science Museum. Well worth checking his output. (Via It’s Nice That).

We manage to find reason to mention Steven Heller, one of the foremost experts on graphic design, pretty regularly. Working with designer Seymour Chwast, Heller is responsible for Illustration: A Visual History. The book chronicles over a century of illustration, drawing out historical context and reveling the various modes in which illustration is vital our understanding of news, views and commerce. Illustration: A Visual Historyis published by Abrams and available now through Amazon.