Art of the Word: Christopher Denise and the "Knight Owl"

We invite you to enter the whimsical and magical world of Christopher Denise where creatures, both real and imagined take on anthropomorphic qualities and inspire us to be optimistic and brave, to set goals that seem impossible to all but ourselves, and to use our brains and imagination to overcome daunting threats. The story featured in this exhibition is about one brave little owl who has a dream and aspirations to be something no one would expect. He uses diplomacy and thoughtfulness, along with some pizza, to solve problems and avoid conflict. If only pizza could solve all of the world’s woes!

The book that is the centerpiece of this exhibition is Knight Owl, a Caldecott Honor Book, and the first in a series about a brave little knight who happens to be a tiny owl. The illustrations are rich and luscious, full of images depicting star-filled nights in an imaginary world from the distant past, before computers or motor cars or airplanes--a time when castles made of stone seemed to grow from the earth and dragons roamed. To create such a world, it helps that Denise spent much of his childhood in Shannon, Ireland where he was intrigued by the culture and the historic remains of the past.

Today, Christopher Denise lives with his family in coastal Rhode Island, not far from where he was born in Massachusetts. Before studying illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, one of the premier art schools in the country, he studied art history and archaeology at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York near the Canadian border. Throughout his career, he has illustrated numerous children’s books and done visual development work for animated films. Knight Owl is the first book that he both wrote and illustrated. He is married to author Anika Aldamuy Denise who often writes books that celebrate her Puerto Rican heritage. He has collaborated with her on some children’s books in the past. Surprisingly, the majority of Denise’s illustration work is created digitally.

“I love creating characters and building worlds for picture books. But the true magic happens when those books are read and shared. Visiting with readers, I see that alchemy in action. Books are an exchange of art and ideas, of humor and heart. They connect us.”         
                                                                                                                            Christopher Denise

Christopher Denise, the author and illustrator of the Knight Owl books