If you’ve spent time around underground comix, punk show posters, conventions across the country, or Seattle’s alt art orbit, or over here in Kitsap County, Port Orchard, or right here in my own town of Bremerton, Washington at Ridgeline Brewery last night, you’ve almost certainly met or heard of Pat Moriarity’s line: rubbery, sly, and sharpened on satire.
Pat is often compared to the noted cartoonist, R. Crumb, a comparison he appreciates, but while both grew from the same underground comix soil, their sensibilities couldn’t be more distinct. Pat’s work carries his own rhythm and bite, a mix of dark humor and empathy that makes his art instantly recognizable.
Pat at Ridgeline Brewery about a mile from my house 11/7/2025
It’s a grin with teeth—inviting at first glance, then full of symbols, jokes, and needling truths when you lean in.
Instagram video from last night in a scan of the event.
Last night he was up the road from me at the brewery showing his art. He also had live acoustic music playing and his son Jack, a musician, showed up. Both of them, really great guys. Both of them, extremely talented.
Why Pat, Why Now?
Pat's career bridges scenes—Midwest punk flyers, Fantagraphics-era alt comics, commercial illustration (beer labels, album labels), music videos, and gallery walls. He’s that rare artist whose voice stays unmistakable whether he’s drawing a Charles Bukowski poem or designing a poster that lands on a Showtime set. Collectors love that continuity; newcomers feel it immediately.
I picked up some signed prints myself last night, a black and white Frank Zappa (he had one which he said he prefers as it was more his traditional style, but he also had some in color, recently done by Fingers Duke printers in Bremerton). I also got an album cover of the Nick Moss band, From the Root to the Fruit, A great Rube Goldberg print that's kind of amazing, as so much of his art it. And a print of a 1999 Kingdom concert with some greats who were still in that process of becoming great icons of music.
2022 Poulsbo, Washington Vibe Coworks showing - I was at this Vibe event, fun time.
From Minneapolis to Fantagraphics (and beyond)
Born to artist parents, Moriarity cut his teeth making gig flyers around Minneapolis in the 1980s before relocating to Seattle in 1991 to work as an art director at Fantagraphics Books (and with The Comics Journal). That move anchored him inside the heart of alternative comics just as the scene exploded. Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade
His signature series, You and Your Big Mouth, ran through the ’90s and resurfaced in the 2010s on Boing Boing—a perfect home for Pat’s mix of cultural memory, pulp energy, and deep-cut humor.
Awards, Festivals, and That Cult Status
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Golden Toonie—Cartoonist of the Year (2008), from Cartoonists Northwest.
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Posters and art featured on the set of Showtime’s Weeds; invited guest at international indie/alt-comix festivals (Crack Fumetti, Novo Doba, Salon Stripa).
Locally, Kitsap and Seattle spaces have showcased his work in recent years, underscoring how durable and collectible his output is—he keeps evolving without losing the bite. Kitsap Daily News
What His Art Feels Like
Moriarity’s images are dense but readable—a lowbrow/alt-comix cocktail with 3D pop (literally, in projects like Deep Artwork), satirical caricature, and a magician’s pocketful of icons. Think: fair-ride colors, carnival barkers, pop totems stacked like a skeptical America, and tender portraits that wink at space-age nostalgia. It’s the kind of work that rewards re-reading the print the way you re-listen to a favorite LP.
Where to Start (Collector Guide)
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Big Mouth (1992–1995 + curated runs on Boing Boing): historically important and still fresh—an anchor for any collection.
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Totems (limited-edition tall zine): a signed/numbered art object with Moriarity’s totemic satire stacked high—excellent gift piece.
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Deep Artwork (3D anthology): a showpiece; frames beautifully and doubles as conversation starter. Fantagraphics Blog
How to Buy (and Support)
Start with Pat’s official site, which links to his Etsy for original art/prints and Fingers Duke for shirts/merch. For back issues and rarities, keep an eye on catalog/collector sites and Fantagraphics Bookstore events. Pat Moriarity
Teacher, Animator, Cross-Disciplinary Maker
Beyond print, Moriarity has taught character design and comics, and he collaborates on animation projects that translate his hand-drawn sensibility to motion—proof that the work isn’t just stylistic; it’s deeply structural. Pat Moriarity
Why He Belongs On Your Wall
Because the best art changes the room. Moriarity’s pieces are graphic enough to read from across a living space, layered enough to hold up under close inspection, and alive enough to spark conversation at every gathering. They’re also part of a living lineage—from underground comix to contemporary alt-culture—so they carry story and status as that lineage keeps getting written. Comics Grinder
Quick Bio (for sidebar or caption)
Pat Moriarity is a Chicago-born, Minneapolis-forged, Seattle-sharpened cartoonist/illustrator known for You and Your Big Mouth, poster art, and satirical fine art. Former art director at Fantagraphics, Golden Toonie winner, widely exhibited, and still publishing/experimenting across print and animation. Fantagraphics Blog
Handy Links (add as hyperlinks in your blog)
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Official site + shop links: PatMoriarity.com. Pat Moriarity
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Boing Boing “Big Mouth” archive highlights.
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Recent profiles/exhibit notes. Kitsap Daily News
In the end, Pat Moriarity is one of those rare artists who never seem to lose their creative pulse. He’s not chasing trends or nostalgia; he’s still drawing from the same electric current that first ran through the underground comix scene and the punk zines of the ’80s.
His work carries humor, rebellion, and empathy in equal measure—a visual language that feels both familiar and startlingly original. I’m proud to call Pat a friend and even prouder to have his art on my wall.
Every piece feels like a conversation—one that keeps evolving long after you’ve stopped looking.
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