Koger Center Presents
“An Ariail View” · Artwork by Robert Ariail
Performance
About This Show
“An Ariail View” is an exhibit featuring original political cartoons and paintings by South Carolina artist Robert Ariail.
Artist Bio
Robert Ariail has been creating award winning editorial cartoons in South Carolina for 40 years. His work is distributed to over 600 newspapers by Andrews McMeel syndicate. Robert’s cartoons have won international, national, regional and state awards including: The National Association of Alternative Newsmedia Award, 2023 ( for his Lowcountry cartoon strip ); The National Press Foundation’s Berryman Award, 2012; The United Nations Ranan Lurie Award, 2009; The Overseas Press Club’s Thomas Nast Award, 1997; The Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award, 1992; The National Headliner Award, 1990; The Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award (seven times); The SC Press Association’s President’s Award for lifetime achievement, 2016 and The Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for the Arts, 2012.
Ariail was also a Finalist for The Pulitzer Prize three times. He is a South Carolina native and University of South Carolina graduate. He and his wife live in an old home in historic Camden, SC.
Artist Statement
For over 40 years Robert Ariail has created editorial cartoons lampooning the world, the nation and his home state of South Carolina. Robert joined The State newspaper in Columbia as Editorial Cartoonist in 1984. He was laid off 25 years later following the Great Recession in 2009. Ariail continues to work producing cartoons that are published in over 600 newspapers via Andrews McMeel Syndication.
Though best known for his cartoons, Ariail has been a lifelong artist. After a 35 year hiatus, Robert decided to start painting again.
He’s currently learning how to paint in oils but he also wants to return to watercolors, his original medium. Ariail is painting landscapes and architectural subjects now but he plans to paint portraits or at least add people to his paintings in the future.
Robert Ariail hopes to transition from the contentious world of politics and political cartooning to the Fine Arts, painting full time in the near future.
