Zingerman’s has long been known as much for its visuals as for its food. Now, the whimsical illustrations that have helped define the Ann Arbor institution are being celebrated as art in their own right in “The Art of Zingerman’s: A Feast for Your Eyes – Second Course,” currently on view at the Ann Arbor District Library’s Downtown branch.
The exhibit, which runs from January 6 through February 27, brings together original artwork created for Zingerman’s over several decades—pieces that once lived in windows, menus, and packaging, now framed and displayed in the library’s Lower-Level Program Room.
Among the featured artists is longtime Zingerman’s illustrator Ian Nagy, whose work has been inseparable from the brand’s visual identity since the early 1990s.
Nagy is a lifelong artist and illustrator, a 6-time Print Magazine award winner, whose work is published in a dozen books. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Ian joined the Zingerman’s team in 1991, and as he puts it, ‘I draw food for money! Best job ever.’”
Nagy’s illustrations—ranging from playful characters like Grandpa Pickle and Bacon Detective to detailed still life’s of olive oil bottles and coffee beans—reflect an evolution that mirrors Zingerman’s own growth.
“At first, I was drawing food more like how I would see it in comic strips and cartoons,” he said. “As time went on, I focused on the specific details of how our food actually looks, which is not only more accurate but also more interesting. As I got more confident and learned new art skills, my illustrations improved in quality and took less time to make.”
What Nagy didn’t anticipate was how deeply those drawings would embed themselves in people’s emotional experience of the deli.
“I was more focused on getting better at what I do and representing the food and people who make and serve it in a lighthearted and approachable manner, while building on what was already established before I worked here,” Nagy said.
Seeing that work reframed as gallery art has been a new experience. “It’s a little surreal,” Nagy said, “but it is fun to see the work on its own without the context of the design work that it was a part of.”
Removed from menus and storefronts, the drawings reveal the craft, humor and intention behind images many visitors know by heart.
While the exhibit is rooted in Ann Arbor, Nagy’s work reflects a broader sense of place shaped by food traditions from around the world.
“I use the same Ann Arbor landmarks that other illustrators do to represent this town now and then,” he said. “My work is more focused on the traditional handcrafted food, the history of it, and the people who make it wherever they might be in the world.”
Humor remains central to that approach. “I’ve always absolutely loved humor and comedy,” Nagy said. “It has helped me relate to other people and deal with the vast amount of absurdity and contradiction in this life. I certainly don’t take myself or really anything in this life super seriously.”
RELATED: Anna Gersh’s “Artists and Their Teachers” Opens at Former CultureVerse Gallery
That sensibility has been shaped, in part, by working inside a values-driven organization.
“I’m proud to represent an organization that has the same values that I do,” he said. “It is definitely a big reason I’ve stuck with this job for 35 years. I’m constantly impressed by the thoughtful and inclusive work that everyone else has done here.”
The exhibit also highlights contributions from fellow artists Ryan Stiner and Philip Stead, whose work Nagy credits with influencing his own.
“I’ve always been impressed with how Ryan and Phil took an established look and pushed it even further,” Nagy said. “This, in turn, changed the way I did certain things because they did them better or differently.”
Asked what he hopes young artists take away from seeing the work displayed in a public library, Nagy keeps it simple. “I hope it inspires young people to make more art in general and for some to pursue doing it for a living if they like that idea,” he said. “If I can do it, anyone can.”
Ultimately, Nagy hopes the drawings continue to spark curiosity and joy. “I hope it inspires people to try something new, whether that’s an unfamiliar food, an art technique, or a different way to look at something,” he said. “And I hope it makes them giggle.”
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., “The Art of Zingerman’s” is free and open to the public. More than a retrospective, the exhibit is a reminder that illustration—when grounded in craft, humor, and community—can become part of a city’s shared memory.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
