Excellence in the Arts Award Recipient Kevin Cannon '98

Kevin Cannon started at Breck in preschool, and his art, even as a Lower School student, has become intertwined with the school’s history. Kevin left Breck from grades 2–8 and returned for his Upper School career. His artwork, as a student, has graced the school’s walls, homecoming t-shirts, yearbook covers, and more.  

After Kevin graduated from Breck, he attended Grinnell College as a studio art major, and his life as a professional cartoonist started to flourish. In 2004, Kevin co-founded Big Time Attic studio and worked to design and animate projects for DC Comics, Cartoon Network, and the Mall of America. His work spans across the country and includes national projects like writing and illustrating for SpongeBob SquarePants, painting brewery murals, and illustrating for the MN State Fair, MNUFC, the Star Tribune, and the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

Kevin continues to create beautiful works of art and still finds time to amaze the Breck community with school-specific projects, including the t-shirt remake for the 1996 State Championship Football Reunion and illustrations for Today at Breck. He also finds time to collaborate with other Breck alumni and former faculty, including partnering with Tom Hegg for their book “Little Dickens” and being a Founding Board Member of Dark & Stormy Productions, run by Sara Marsh ’98. Keep your eye out for Kevin’s illustrations in a children’s book written by Joe Schmidt on Twin’s legend, Joe Mauer, that will come out in late 2023 or early 2024.

Kevin lives in Hopkins with his wife, Maggie Hertz, and son Ulysses. When he isn’t illustrating, you can find him spending time with his family, playing mini golf, watching hockey, or daydreaming about being an Arctic explorer. 

Please join us in congratulating Kevin today as a recipient of the inaugural Breck Excellence in the Arts Award!