Susan Grode, a fine art and entertainment lawyer who spent decades championing the rights of artists and creators, died Feb. 8 in Los Angeles of natural causes. She was known for her independent thinking and for challenging industry norms in pursuit of fair outcomes for the artists she represented.
Over a career that spanned several decades, Grode became a leading advocate for fine artists, animators, authors and filmmakers, helping to establish contractual protections that remain widely used. Her clients included Judy Chicago, Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons,” the late Stephen Hillenburg, creator of “SpongeBob SquarePants” and author Laura Numeroff. She also wrote “The Visual Artist’s Manual,” an early and influential guide that helped artists understand their rights and navigate the business side of their careers.
Born in New York, Grode graduated from Cornell University, where she began her professional life as a painter and exhibited her work. She later worked as an art book editor at Harry N. Abrams before moving to Los Angeles to attend law school. She graduated from the USC School of Law as one of only four women in her class.
Grode built a distinguished legal practice representing creators across fine art and entertainment, including efforts to secure a permanent home for Judy Chicago’s “The Dinner Party” at the Brooklyn Museum. She was also an early advocate for animation creators’ creative and financial rights. She became a partner at Katten Muchin LLP and served as co-chair of its national Entertainment and Media Department until retiring in 2021.
A lifelong feminist, Grode was deeply involved in advancing women’s rights and the arts. She served on multiple nonprofit boards and was recognized in 2023 for more than two decades of pro bono work on behalf of feminist organizations.
She is survived by her sons, manager Jason Grode and Legendary Entertainment CEO Joshua Grode; her sister, Joan Kofsky; and five grandchildren.
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