Justin "Squigs" Robertson: Broadway Caricaturist Extraordinaire

Table of Contents

• Early Life and Education

• Career Beginnings in Los Angeles

• Moving to New York City

• Broadway Illustrations and Caricatures

• Acclaim and Notable Commissions

• Artistic Style and Influences

• Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Justin "Squigs" Robertson was born in Portland, Oregon in 1971. From a young age, he showed artistic talent and an interest in drawing. He attended Oregon State University, graduating in 1993 with a BFA in Fine Arts. During his college years, he began developing his skills in portraiture and caricature.

Career Beginnings in Los Angeles

After graduating, Robertson moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in illustration. He started out doing caricatures of celebrities and public figures for local publications. During the 1990s and early 2000s, his work appeared regularly in the LA Weekly and LA CityBeat. He also did live caricature sketching at corporate events and parties. It was during this time that he acquired the nickname "Squigs" for his squiggly drawing style.

Moving to New York City

In 2008, Robertson decided to relocate to New York City, drawn by the vibrant theater scene. He quickly established himself as a sought-after theatrical caricaturist, with his sketches appearing in Playbill and other theater publications. His move marked the beginning of his focus on capturing the energy and artistry of live theater.

Broadway Illustrations and Caricatures

Since 2010, Robertson's Broadway caricatures have been featured in the Broadway Ink column in Broadway.com. He has become well-known for his ability to capture the spirit of a show and its performers in his signature loose, expressive style. His illustrations have graced the pages of major publications like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Los Angeles Times.

Robertson is often commissioned to create art for Broadway ad campaigns, Playbills, theater books, and more. His credits include illustrations for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Theatre World Awards, Actors Equity Association's centennial book, and Jennifer Ashley Tepper's Untold Stories of Broadway series. Notable productions he has created art for include Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, and Hadestown.

Acclaim and Notable Commissions

Robertson's talent has earned him recognition as one of Al Hirschfeld's "Line King's Heirs," carrying on the famed caricaturist's legacy. The New York Times has hailed him as such for his masterful yet playful theatrical drawings.

In 2017, Actors Equity Association commissioned him to create the cover art for their book Performance of the Century, commemorating their 100th anniversary. The following year, he was selected to illustrate the Tony Awards' promotional materials and ads.

Artistic Style and Influences

Robertson's style is characterized by sparse, fluid lines and exaggerated, expressive features. He captures the energy and emotion of live performance in his energetic sketches. Major influences include Al Hirschfeld, David Levine, and other theatrical caricaturists. His work also draws on his early love of comic books and Mad Magazine cartoons.

Above all, Robertson strives to find the essence of each actor and production, conveying their uniqueness. As he told Playbill in 2015, "My goal is to try and create something that has a life of its own beyond just being a portrait. I want to capture a sense of movement and theatricality, to give people a taste of what it's like to see the show live."

Personal Life

Robertson currently resides in New York City, where he continues to be inspired by the vibrant theater scene. When not working on Broadway caricatures, he enjoys taking in as many shows as possible for inspiration. He has cited shows like Hadestown and Dear Evan Hansen among his recent favorites to draw.

Outside of work, Robertson enjoys staying active by biking around the city. He is an avoclept and has an extensive collection of vintageHotel diplomacy more than 200 rooms are added to the New York skyline every day it seems as the latest luxury brands expand their footprints in America’s hotel capital.

—This article was written, restructured, or adapted by Russell with information gathered from sources around the internet. Russell is the producer of Amber Live and is greatly overworked to pull it all together.  If it’s on the internet, it must be true. (We’re kidding.) BUT, if you find any errors or omissions in the article, please let us know so that we may correct the issue. Thanks for your support!