Jon Kudelka, award-winning political cartoonist, dies at 53: Family reveals cause of death; all about his work and career

Jon Kudelka, award-winning political cartoonist, passed away on Sunday (February 8, 2026). He was 53. The Walkley Award-winning cartoonist died in Hobart after a two‑year battle with an aggressive brain cancer. He breathed his last surrounded by loved ones. He was diagnosed with stage‑four glioblastoma, his family confirmed in a statement.

Kudelka, who was a father of two, is survived by his wife, Margaret, and their teenage children, Kay and Oskar. He and Margaret would have celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary later in February. He was admired by readers, colleagues, and even the politicians he relentlessly criticised throughout his three‑decade career.

" Jon was deeply loved and admired by many, including fellow Tasmanians, the legions of fans of his inimitable art, countless newspaper readers over 30 years, and even by the politicians he relentlessly skewered in his award-winning cartoons (many of whom have his work on their walls)," his wife said in the statement, as quoted by 9News.


" He loved his family, friends, making art in many forms, and firmly calling out political and anti-science bulls with his typically dry wit and compassion."

"Jon was diagnosed with glioblastoma in early 2024 and faced treatment for two years with positivity and hope, supported by his wife, Maggie, teenage children Kay and Oskar, sister Liesl, and his many friends," the family statement read.

Kudelka’s work and career

Kudelka’s work appeared in the Hobart Mercury, The Australian and The Saturday Paper, earning him a reputation as one of the nation’s sharpest political observers, according to reports.

Some of the industry’s highest honours were bestowed upon him throughout his career. Those included two Walkley Awards for Best Cartoon (2008 and 2018), the 2008 ACA Stanley Award for Best Political Cartoonist, the National Museum of Australia’s Cartoonist of the Year in 2010, the 2018 News Award for Best Cartoonist and the 2019 Kennedy Award for Best Cartoon.

According to 9News, Kudelka's cartoon 'From the Heart', depicting Uluru as a fist with an upturned middle finger, captioned "Official Government Uluru Statement Response", won a Walkley Award in 2018.