American Tall Tales, audio recording cover

"Today's collection is a series of artworks made by creative duo Leo and Diane Dillion. Leo and Diane met at Parsons in 1954, and, following the classic romantic narrative of rivals-to-lovers, were married in 1956. The two went on to work together as illustrators in the worlds of science-fiction, fantasy, and children's literature for over 50 years until Leo's death in 2012. The Dillons' work is distinctively multifaceted, pulling from African folk art, medieval manuscript illuminations, and the psychedelic aesthetic of the time to create bold and layered compositions. Their output is also notable for its depiction of minority groups often left out of the science-fiction canon—a focus that grew out of their experience as an interracial couple first married in a country still 11 years away from Loving v. Virginia." —Elizabeth Goodspeed