Wendy MacNaughton is an artist, graphic journalist, illustrator, and educator whose wide-ranging, boundary-pushing work is rooted in the belief that drawing—and the deep attention it requires—is a vital tool for human connection. She is the author and illustrator of How to Say Goodbye and Meanwhile in San Francisco, a former visual columnist and frequent contributor to The New York Times, and the artist behind numerous bestsellers, including Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat. MacNaughton is also the creator and host of DrawTogether, an intergenerational educational arts program that brings people together through drawing as a way to foster connection, curiosity, and relational learning across difference. Rooted in MacNaughton’s training as a social worker, DrawTogether’s programs—including interactive videos, podcasts, online lessons, a nonprofit supporting educators, public interventions, and partnerships with schools, museums, and community organizations—have reached hundreds of thousands of participants globally. Across these interventions, and all her work, MacNaughton centers the simple, accessible act of drawing as a powerful tool for witnessing, connection, and belonging.
At MacDowell, MacNaughton worked on text and artwork for a book exploring the value of traditional drawing as both a personal and social practice. Grounded in MacNaughton's experience as an artist, graphic journalist, and social worker, the book explores drawing’s impact on individuals and communities, while advocating for greater support and access to drawing throughout every stage of life—from childhood through older adulthood. This book is under contract with Little Brown.
