Tasmania has lost one of its most distinctive artistic voices, with the passing of award-winning cartoonist Jon Kudelka. He died in Hobart on Sunday at the age of 53, following a diagnosis of glioblastoma, a type of aggressive brain cancer, earlier this year.
Kudelka was a familiar presence in Australian newspapers for over three decades, contributing his sharp wit and insightful commentary to publications such as the Hobart Mercury, The Australian, and The Saturday Paper. His distinctive style, often described as a “lovely economic drawing style that belied the seriousness of the cartoon,” was as recognisable as his ability to skewer politicians and call out what he termed “political and anti-science bullshit” with a dry wit and compassion.
His family shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, noting that Jon was “deeply loved and admired by many, including fellow Tasmanians, the legions of fans of his inimitable art, countless newspaper readers over 30 years, and even by the politicians he relentlessly skewered in his award-winning cartoons (many of whom have his work on their walls).” They added that he “loved his family, friends, making art in many forms, and firmly calling out political and anti-science bullshit with his typically dry wit and compassion.”
A National Treasure in Cartooning
The news was met with widespread sadness, with many in the media and political spheres acknowledging the significant loss to Australian cartooning. Mike Bowers, host of Talking Pictures on ABC Insiders, described Kudelka as a “national treasure” and “a genuinely decent human being.”
“We’ve lost a national treasure,” Bowers told ABC Radio Hobart Afternoons. “He was a genuinely decent human being… who cared about so many issues and I just loved his cartooning. His cartoons were LOL — you had to laugh at them, and the gag in his cartoons was always superb, and he had a lovely economic drawing style that belied the seriousness of the cartoon.”
Bowers shared a poignant memory of Kudelka’s final appearance on Talking Pictures, filmed at his Hobart shop during a time when Kudelka was visibly struggling with his health.
“He managed to steel himself to do one final appearance on Talking Pictures [in 2024] and our planes were cancelled and we were stuck in Hobart overnight, which Jon thought was absolutely hilarious. And it’ll be my endearing memory of him because I was saying to him, ‘well, you’re always saying it’s awful, don’t come here and I can see why now’. And he thought this was very, very funny and I’ll remember and treasure that last time he [appeared in the segment], and it was a struggle to get up and do it, and I really appreciate it. I’ll be eternally grateful that I got to know one of the true greats of Australian cartooning.”
A Career of Acclaim and Wit
Kudelka’s talent was widely recognised throughout his career. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Walkley Award for his cartoons and was twice named the Museum of Australian Democracy’s Cartoonist of the Year. His journey into the world of political commentary began at the Hobart Mercury in 1993, before he went on to contribute to The Australian for two decades and later The Saturday Paper.
Beyond his incisive political work, Kudelka also explored other artistic avenues. He created non-political artwork celebrating Tasmanian life, including its unique birds and animals. He also famously initiated a tongue-in-cheek anti-tourism campaign with merchandise bearing the slogan, “Tasmania is awful, don’t come here,” a testament to his playful and often ironic sense of humour.
The Genesis of a Cartoonist
Kudelka’s passion for drawing cartoons was sparked at a young age. In a 2010 interview with the ABC, he recounted an experience in grade 3 where his best friend received praise from a teacher for their cartooning skills.
“I couldn’t stand him being better than me at something, so I immediately started drawing and decided I would be good at it too,” Kudelka explained. “I had my first cartoon published about a week after that by my mother in Parent magazine, because she was the editor, and they paid me five bucks for it, I think — which was a huge amount of money in those days. So I actually got the bug then.”
This early start set him on a path that would see him become a respected voice in Australian media. His professional life was also intertwined with his personal one, as he and his wife Margaret, also an artist, opened a shop in Hobart’s Salamanca Arts Centre, showcasing their diverse artistic creations.
Kudelka is survived by his wife, Margaret, and their teenage children, Kay and Oskar. His family’s statement concluded with a poignant reminder of his enduring legacy: “Jon’s presence remains in the love he gave and the lives he touched. He will always be with us.”
