# Matt Groening artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/matt-groening/
Profile generated: 2026-05-23T14:47:30.000Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1954-02-15
- Nationality: American
- Movements: Underground comix, Television animation
- Common media: Ink on paper (comic strip art), Hand-painted animation cel, Lithographic and serigraph prints

## About Matt Groening

Matt Groening is an American cartoonist, animator, and writer best known as the creator of The Simpsons, the longest-running primetime scripted series in television history. Born in Portland, Oregon, in 1954, Groening began his career with the underground comic strip Life in Hell (1977–2012), which drew a devoted following for its sharp, autobiographical humor. He later created the science-fiction animated series Futurama (1999–2013) and the fantasy comedy Disenchantment (2018–2023), solidifying his place among the most influential figures in television animation. His work is defined by satirical social commentary and a recognizably simplified, expressive visual style. While Groening operates primarily in media and entertainment rather than the traditional fine-art world, original production artwork, animation cels, comic drawings, and signed prints tied to his creations circulate widely at auction, making his name a fixture in animation-art and pop-culture collectibles markets.

## Common works and media

Common work types include original hand-painted animation cels from The Simpsons and Futurama, production drawings and character model sheets, limited-edition sericels and lithographic prints, hand-signed posters and promotional materials, original Life in Hell comic strip artwork and published compilations, and concept or development art for television projects. Media range from ink and gouache on celluloid to ink on paper and offset lithography.

## Market and appraisal context

Collectors most frequently encounter Groening-associated material as animation production art — original hand-painted cels, character layout drawings, and storyboard panels from The Simpsons and Futurama productions. Signed limited-edition prints, promotional posters, and original Life in Hell comic strip artwork also appear at auction. Key valuation factors include whether a piece is an original production cel versus a later edition print, the cultural significance of the character or scene depicted, the presence of Groening's autograph, condition, and documented provenance. Items tied to landmark episodes or featuring the core Simpsons family tend to draw the strongest interest. Authentication and a clear chain of provenance are essential for accurate appraisal, as the market also contains licensed reproductions and unauthenticated material.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine artist identity research from institutional authority files and biographical sources with auction records, auction-house context, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. For Matt Groening, identity data is sourced from the Getty Union List of Artist Names, VIAF, Wikidata, the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History, and the Library of Congress authority file.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43994
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Groening
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500116688
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/42153/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85369991
- RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/214026