Jon Kudelka, an award-winning Australian cartoonist, died on Sunday in South Hobart at the age of 53. His wife, Margaret Kudelka, confirmed his passing, stating he was surrounded by family and friends. Kudelka had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, prior to his death, with sources reporting differing timelines for his diagnosis. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Kudelka contributed to prominent national publications and received numerous accolades for his work.
Passing and Diagnosis
Jon Kudelka passed away on Sunday afternoon in South Hobart, Tasmania.
His wife, Margaret Kudelka, released a statement confirming his death, noting he was with family and friends.
Kudelka had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. Sources report his diagnosis occurred either in early 2022, leading to two years of treatment, or in early 2024. He is survived by his wife Margaret and their teenage children, Kay and Oskar, and was supported by his sister Liesl during his illness.
Career and Contributions
Born in Burnie, Tasmania, in 1972, Kudelka's career in cartooning spanned over three decades, beginning with the Hobart Mercury in 1993. His work was regularly featured in major Australian publications, including The Australian, where he worked for two decades, and The Saturday Paper.
He was reported to have published approximately 10,000 cartoons throughout his career, having sold his first at the age of nine.
Prior to his death, he had retired from The Australian.
Awards and Recognition
Kudelka received multiple awards for his contributions to cartooning. These include:
- Two Walkley Awards for best cartoon in 2008 and 2018.
- Kennedy, Stanley, and News awards.
- Recognition as the Museum of Australian Democracy's Cartoonist of the Year on two occasions, in 2010 and 2019.
His 2018 Walkley Award was for the cartoon "From the Heart," published in The Australian. Judges noted the cartoon captured public sentiment following the government's response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
This piece depicted Uluru as a fist with an upturned middle finger, captioned "Official Government Uluru Statement Response."
Other Artistic Endeavors
Beyond his political cartoons, Kudelka pursued other artistic forms, including life drawing and animation. He authored multiple books, which include "101 Uses For A John Howard," "Kudelka And First Dog's Spiritual Journey," and "Hobart By Kudelka." He and his wife, Margaret, who is also an artist, operated a shop at Hobart's Salamanca Arts Centre where his artwork was sold.
In the year prior to his death, Kudelka contributed an article to The Saturday Paper titled "Lessons from political cartooning," in which he reflected on the complexities and role of his profession.