The Cincinnati Art Museum is presenting “What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine,” an exhibition tracing the publication’s seven-decade legacy of satirical illustration, through March 1, 2026. The show originated at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and was brought to Cincinnati after CAM Director Cameron Kitchin saw it there.

Curated by the Norman Rockwell Museum’s Stephanie Haboush Plunkett and satirical illustrator Steve Brodner, the exhibition features original artwork from MAD’s roster of contributors — collectively known as the “Usual Gang of Idiots” — spanning the publication’s history since its 1952 founding as a comic book. Works include process drawings, marked-up originals, and finished illustrations, giving visitors a view of the magazine’s collaborative creative process.

Emily Agricola Holtrop, CAM’s director of learning and interpretation, served as the on-site curator and noted the exhibition’s broad appeal beyond longtime MAD readers. “If you like cartoons, if you like comics, if you like illustration, if you’re open-minded, if you like satire — I think you’re gonna get something out of it,” she said. The show covers how MAD addressed major cultural and political events across its publishing history.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is located at 953 Eden Park Dr. Admission to the museum is free; some special exhibitions may carry an additional charge. For hours and information, visit cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

Source: Cincinnati CityBeat