Lisa Hanawalt Biography

Lisa Hanawalt is a highly talented American Illustrator known for her exceptional skills in cartooning, painting, writing, and sculpting. She has achieved numerous accolades throughout her career, including being the first woman to win an ‘Ignatz Award’ in 2010, which she went on to win multiple times. Additionally, Lisa has been honored with the ‘James Beard Journalism Award for Humor’ and the ‘Critics’ Choice Award’ on multiple occasions. Her most renowned work is the critically acclaimed American adult animated web series ‘BoJack Horseman,’ available on ‘Netflix,’ where she served as the production designer and producer. Lisa has also made significant contributions as the creator and executive producer of the ‘Netflix’ series ‘Tuca & Bertie.’ Notably, her comic series ‘I Want You’ and the book ‘Hot Dog Taste’ have also garnered widespread recognition and received various prestigious awards.

Quick Facts

  • Age: 40 Years
  • Family: father – Philip Hanawalt, mother – Graciela Spivak, partner – Adam Conover
  • Born Country: United States
  • Artists
  • Illustrators
  • Height: 5’3″ (160 cm)
  • U.S. State: California
  • City: Palo Alto, California
  • Education: University Of California, Los Angeles

Childhood & Early Life

Lisa Hanawalt was born on June 19, 1983, in Palo Alto, California, U.S., to Philip Hanawalt and Graciela Spivak. Both her parents are biologists working with ‘Stanford University.’

Career

In the early years of her career, between 2007 and 2010, Hanawalt created numerous drawings and paintings, including works such as ‘Cats Drawing,’ ‘Two Cats Kicking a Dog in the Balls,’ ‘Living Room,’ ‘Shoe Store Birds,’ ‘Bird Meeting,’ ‘Arcade,’ ‘Cat Bots 1,’ ‘Cat Bots 2,’ ‘Auto Shop Mansion,’ ‘Party at Fowl Field,’ ‘Catman and Birds,’ ‘Macaw With Peanuts,’ ‘Swimming Hole,’ ‘Krampus,’ and ‘Tough Kitties.’

Her works were displayed at ‘The Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival’ in 2011. She also contributed to a portal called ‘The Hairpin’ and released a series of illustrated film reviews during 2011-2013. Some notable paintings and drawings from this period include ‘Birch Tree Forest,’ ‘Monkey Garden,’ ‘Jungle Dogs,’ ‘Colossus Horse,’ ‘Horse Roping (The Misfits),’ ‘Snake Pile,’ ‘Lizard Town,’ ‘DeLorean Lizards,’ ‘Pink Fashion Cat,’ ‘Basilisk Lizard and Flowers,’ ‘Nature’s Bouquet,’ ‘Motorcycle Nude,’ ‘Street Construction 1,’ ‘Street Construction 2,’ and ‘Drive-in Movie Theater.’

In 2009, her first comic series, ‘I Want You,’ was published by ‘Buenaventura Press.’ She became the first woman to win the ‘Ignatz Award’ for “Outstanding Comic” in 2010. Hanawalt’s first illustrated children’s book, ‘Benny’s Brigade,’ was released in 2012, and her one-woman anthology of illustrations and comics, ‘My Dirty Dumb Eyes,’ was published in 2013.

She designed the American animated adult TV series ‘BoJack Horseman’ for Netflix in 2014. Her book ‘Hot Dog Taste Test’ was published in 2016. Hanawalt’s graphic Western comedy novel titled ‘Coyote Doggirl’ was published in 2018.

Her Other Works

Hanawalt has released several innovative works, including ‘Toilet Comics,’ ‘Planting,’ and ‘Tuca the Toucan.’ She has also contributed illustrations to ‘The New York Times’ and designed book covers for Patricia Lockwood’s works.

Awards & Honors

Hanawalt has received several awards and honors throughout her career. She won the ‘Ignatz Award’ for “Outstanding Minicomic” in 2009 and the ‘Ignatz Award’ for “Outstanding Comic” in 2010. She also won the ‘Stumptown Award’ for “Best Small Press” in 2011.

In 2013, Hanawalt received the ‘Society of Illustrators’ silver medal in editorial illustration and was featured in ‘American Illustration Annual 32.’ She won the ‘James Beard Award for Humor in Journalism’ in 2014 and has been recognized with multiple ‘Critics’ Choice Awards’ and ‘Annie Awards’ for her work on ‘BoJack Horseman’ and ‘Tuca & Bertie.’

Family & Personal Life

Hanawalt has been in a long-term relationship with comedian and TV personality Adam Conover. She is known for her passion for horses.

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