Guess Who? The Many Faces of Noma Bar

It requires skilled eyes and hands for artists to render subjects by translating their personalities, physical traits and careers into a few well-executed lines. Having worked for such publications as The New York Times, Esquire, The Guardian and Time Out London, Noma Bar is one artist capable of such visual feats. From famous celebrities like Steven Spielberg to infamous ones like Michael Jackson, to cultural icons like Albert Einstein and Elvis, to political figures like George Bush and Sadaam Hussein, Bar has made a career of creating caricatures through illustrations that rely on the power of association, and sometimes a bit of imagination.

Stephen King has hatchet eyes; broken chains accent Nelson Mandela’s facial expression; Joseph Stalin’s nose and mouth are shaped like the hammer and sickle. All of Bar’s faces exude the power of the visual, in that we recognize his subjects by what they do.

Steven Heller’s introduction examines Bar’s work by placing it in the history of caricature, pinpointing the clear influences but also acknowledging it as something wholly unique in its approach to this art form with a long and distinguished lineage. Informative and playful captions accompany every illustration, providing insight into Bar’s process.

A true cross-over book, Guess Who? The Many Faces of Noma Bar will appeal to graphic designers and pop-culture fans alike.