Pulitzer Prize-Winning Editorial Cartoonist
Signe Wilkinson is a groundbreaking editorial cartoonist who made history in 1992 as the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning. Her sharp wit and fearless commentary have defined East Coast political cartooning for over four decades, with her work appearing in major publications including The Philadelphia Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the San Jose Mercury News.
Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1950 into a Quaker family, Wilkinson earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Denver and refined her artistic skills at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She began her journalism career as a reporter before transitioning to editorial cartooning in the early 1980s.
Wilkinson joined the San Jose Mercury News as a full-time editorial cartoonist in 1982, then moved to The Philadelphia Daily News in 1985, where she became one of the few female editorial cartoonists in the United States. Her cartoons began appearing in The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2013, and though she stepped back from daily cartooning in 2020, she continues as an occasional contributor, most recently drawing the Sunday editorial cartoon for the Inquirer's opinion section.
Beyond her historic Pulitzer Prize win, Wilkinson's numerous honors include:
Wilkinson's artistic range extends beyond editorial cartoons. She created the syndicated comic strip Family Tree (2007–2011), which focused on environmental themes, and Shrubbery for Organic Gardening magazine, blending botanical and political humor. Her published works include Abortion Cartoons on Demand (1992) and One Nation, Under Surveillance: Cartoon Rants on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Privacy (2005).
Throughout her career, Wilkinson's work has consistently tackled civic life, women's rights, environmental stewardship, social justice, and privacy issues. Her cartoons are celebrated for their "unique style and famous irreverence," offering sharp satire combined with a commitment to progressive values.
Wilkinson continues to contribute to public discourse through her work with Bohiney News, her Sunday cartoons for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and her active presence on social media. Her career has been the subject of museum exhibitions and academic discussions, including recent programs at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
For more information and to view her work, visit signe-wilkinson.com or her Bohiney author page at bohiney.com/author/signe-wilkinson.