Maira Kalman was born in Tel Aviv and moved to New York with her family at the age of four. She now lives in Manhattan. Maira has written and illustrated numerous books, including Cake, And the Pursuit of Happiness and The Principles of Uncertainty.

She is the illustrator of Michael Pollan's Food Rules and the bestselling edition of William Strunk and E. B. White's The Elements of Style. Kalman's work is shown at the Julie Saul Gallery in Manhattan.