Edward Ignatius Valigursky (October 16, 1926 in Arnold, Pennsylvania[1] – September 7, 2009 in Cape Coral, Florida)[2] was an American illustrator known for his portrayals of technology, and for his work in science fiction.
[2] In 1952, he moved to New York City, where he worked for Ziff Davis as an art director.
[1] There, he began illustrating that company's pulp magazines, including Amazing Stories and Fantastic Adventures.
[6] The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction found Valigursky's work to be "perfectly suited for the space operas and futuristic melodramas [of Ace Books]" and praised his depictions of robots and "his characteristic needle-nosed spaceships", but faulted those of his images that "focus on human figures" as "less interesting", concluding that although "Valigursky cannot be regarded as a great sf artist, (...) his distinctive style will always be fondly associated with the simple pleasure of reading unambitious, unpretentious space adventures.
"[4] In 1989, Popular Mechanics stated that he was "one of [America's] best-known illustrators of aircraft, ships, spacecraft, and other machines", and that his works were "on permanent display [at] the Pentagon [and] numerous naval and air force installations.