Jonathan Oscar Kudelka (22 February 1972 – 8 February 2026) was an Australian editorial cartoonist.[1] His work has regularly appeared in The Australian, The Mercury and The Saturday Paper.[2]

Jon Kudelka
Born(1972-02-22)22 February 1972
Burnie, Tasmania, Australia
Died8 February 2026(2026-02-08) (aged 53)
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
CitizenshipAustralian
Years active1993–2026
Known forCartoonist for The Saturday Paper
Websitekudelka.com.au

Life and career

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Kudelka was born in Burnie, Tasmania on 22 February 1972.[3] He obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tasmania.[3] In 2008, he won the Stanley Award for best editorial/political cartoonist,[4] as well as the Walkley Award for best cartoon.[5] In 2018 he won a second Walkley for a cartoon about Uluru,[2] while in 2019 he won the Vince O’Farrell Award for Outstanding Cartoon at the Kennedy Awards.[6] published over 10,000 cartoons.[7]

Kudelka was diagnosed with glioblastoma in early 2024.[8] He died in Hobart on 8 February 2026, at the age of 53.[9]

References

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  1. Leon, Lucien (2017). "The Evolution of Political Cartooning in the New Media Age: Cases from Australia, the USA and the UK". Satire and Politics: The Interplay of Heritage and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 164. ISBN 9783319567747. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 Blackiston, Hannah (30 September 2019). "Walkley Award-winning cartoonist Jon Kudelka joins The Saturday Paper". Mumbrella. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 Foyle, Lindsay (2008). "Not Always Funny: A Short History of the Cartoonists Who Have Worked on The Australian". Comic Commentators: Contemporary Political Cartooning in Australia. Network Books. p. 232. ISBN 9781920845483. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  4. "The Stanleys". Australian Cartoonists' Association. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  5. "Walkley Winners Archive". Walkley Foundation. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  6. "2019 Kennedy Award Winners". The Kennedy Awards. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  7. "'Constant in the pages': Beloved cartoonist Jon Kudelka dies at 53". The Chronicle. 9 February 2026.
  8. Dumas, Daisy (9 February 2026). "Jon Kudelka, much-loved Australian political cartoonist, dies aged 53". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  9. "Jon Kudelka, Tasmanian cartoonist, dies after brain cancer battle". ABC News. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
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