Loading…
Attending this event?
Simple
Expanded
Grid
By Venue
Map
Wednesday, July 10
 

6:30am CDT

Bus from AC Hotel to Minneapolis Institute of Art
Wednesday July 10, 2024 6:30am - 7:30am CDT
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
For AC Hotel guests, the bus will run continuously from the AC Hotel to the Minneapolis Institute of Art for one (1) hour.
Wednesday July 10, 2024 6:30am - 7:30am CDT
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
  General Conference

7:59am CDT

Check-In Open
Wednesday July 10, 2024 7:59am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Please check-in and claim your badge at the ICON12 Check-In Table at MIA at the following times:
• Tuesday: 2-4pm, Main lobby
• Wednesday-Thursday: 8am-4pm, Main lobby
• Friday-Saturday: 8am-4pm, MacMillan Atrium

8AM Wednesday Morning Workshop attendees will find their badges at their Workshop.

Remember to always wear your badge—and feel free to make it your own!
Wednesday July 10, 2024 7:59am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  General Conference

8:00am CDT

Drawing Textiles: Quilting for Illustrators
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
What can illustrators learn from quilters? In this workshop we will look to both traditional and contemporary textile artists to teach us about color and composition, pattern mixing, and working with constraints. We will touch some quilts, look at even more, and practice interpreting and depicting textiles with a variety of mixed media. No sewing skills required - we will be drawing quilts, not stitching them! This workshop is for drawers and designers interested in exploring the possibilities of using quilts as visual metaphor, narrative device, or decorative inspiration. We will discuss how quilting and illustration can be complementary, and the benefits of nurturing interdisciplinary creative practices.
Speakers
avatar for Alanna Stapleton

Alanna Stapleton

Graduate Admissions Counselor, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Alanna Stapleton is an interdisciplinary artist and educator from Minneapolis. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators NY and shown across the midwest. She works in graduate admissions at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and is a Teaching Artist at the... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

8:00am CDT

Expand Your Business Mindset—From Freelance Creative to Art Brand
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Explore the transformation that happens when you expand your business mindset, moving beyond definitions like 'freelance illustrator' or 'graphic designer,' toward the concepts of 'artist' and 'art brand.' This workshop begins with a panel discussion featuring Art Brand Alliance (ABA) members Meenal Patel, Jill Kittock, Carlos Carmonamedia, and ABA director Betsy Cordes. Their stories will help you see how you can apply the 'art brand mindset' to your own endeavors, bringing more authenticity and personal satisfaction to your work while expanding your impact. Then we'll take time for individual reflection, with imagination exercises that encourage you to tap into your own unique story, passions, and values. We'll conclude by breaking into smaller groups, sharing insights, suggestions, and encouragement toward next steps. In the process, we'll help you think more expansively about your role as a creator and the opportunities that are in your power to define and pursue."
Speakers
avatar for Betsy Cordes

Betsy Cordes

Director, Art Brand Alliance
The Art Brand Alliance is a professional organization for entrepreneurial visual artists. Through networking opportunities and learning resources, our members rise to the challenges of creative business ownership, becoming better informed, more confident, capable leaders of their... Read More →
avatar for carlos carmonamedina

carlos carmonamedina

owner, The Culture Curious
Artist Carlos Carmonamedina illustrates postcards and greetings card for his company The Culture Curious (@alwaysculturecurious). He completed his art education in Xalapa (Mexico) and in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), where he majored in Visual Arts and Painting.
avatar for Jill Kittock

Jill Kittock

Artist, Jill Kittock Art & Illustration
Jill is an artist who paints people in mundane moments in lush interior spaces.Through rich imagery, Jill hopes to convey the lavishness of life, the peacefulness of a moment alone with a book and a snack, the warmth of friendship, and sometimes the dark weirdness of being alone in... Read More →
avatar for Meenal Patel

Meenal Patel

Artist, Meenal Patel Studio
Meenal Patel is an illustrator, children’s book author, and designer whose work celebrates everyday joys, the moments that connect us, and the strength of community. She is the author and illustrator of Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala, which received the South Asia Book Awar... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Lecture

8:00am CDT

SEO: The Secret Sauce for Illustrators
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Do you want more art directors to visit your website? Do you want more commission requests? We all know that the internet is the primary platform for promoting your creative talents. As a freelance illustrators, you can benefit from harnessing the power of search engine optimization (SEO). Wait—keep reading—it's not as boring as it sounds!!! In this workshop, Nate and Salli will show you how SEO works and describe how enhancements to your website can improve your online presence and help you reach a wider audience.
Speakers
avatar for Nate Padavick

Nate Padavick

Founder, Illustrators For Hire
Nate Padavick is a freelance illustrator and web designer. He is also the co-founder — along with his sister Salli S. Swindell — of the illustration platforms THEY DRAW, Illustrators For Hire, and The Illustrator’s Circle. Padavick splits his time between New York and Miami... Read More →
avatar for Salli Swindell

Salli Swindell

Illustrator, Illustrators For Hire
Salli Swindell is a freelance illustrator who loves color. She is also the co-founder — along with her brother Nate Padavick — of the illustration platforms THEY DRAW, Illustrators For Hire, and The Illustrator’s Circle. Swindell also spends her time hiking and chopping veggies... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Lecture

8:00am CDT

Wine-CON Workshop
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Create a small set of one-color spot illustrations/icons for a wine brand. This hands-on workshop walks you through our process for iconography, taking you from inspiration to final creation. We'll dig into layout, style, setup, plus tips and tricks — and all while holding a refreshing morning mimosa... for 'inspiration.'
Speakers
avatar for Katie Kirk

Katie Kirk

Illustrator, Eight Hour Day
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

8:00am CDT

Curiouser & Curiouser: Theatre of Imagination
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Inspired by cabinets of curiosities, this assemblage-based workshop will explore multimedia materials to create unique theaters of imagination. Curious participants are encouraged to engage in playful exploration using their own diverse art materials: found 3D objects, collaging ephemera material, drawings, and paintings. The work is assembled in the provided wooden box, acting as the theater, showcasing the interdisciplinary work. Participants will choose their own ideas and themes to explore while providing their own unique found objects and materials.
Speakers
avatar for David Terrill

David Terrill

Professor of Illustration, Kansas City Art Institute
From observation to imagination, Terrill’s works emphasize the spontaneity of life with shades of allegory. Fearless mark making paired with bold visuals create compelling and diverse images. Terrill serves as a professor of illustration at the Kansas City Art Institute.
Wednesday July 10, 2024 8:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

9:00am CDT

ICON12 Welcome + PRISMS Opening Remarks
Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:00am - 9:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Shreyas R Krishnan

Shreyas R Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Shreyas R Krishnan is an illustrator-designer from Chennai, India, who makes non-fiction comics and zines on gender, visual culture, memory, and complex social issues. She is an assistant professor at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:00am - 9:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms

9:15am CDT

Evolving Wordless Illustration as a Preventative Tool in the Discussion of Child Exploitation
Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:15am - 9:15am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
This paper presents ongoing material from a practice-based PhD, researching the potential for wordless illustration through critically evolving traditional approaches of visual storytelling into immersive spatial contexts. The author contends that by deconstructing the bound book, opportunities for multi-linear storytelling arise which challenge the ways in which narrative experiences might be designed and understood. The author argues for the benefits of these ‘unrestrained’ readings which encourage deeper engagement and learning opportunities through group discussion.
Speakers
avatar for Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson

Doctoral Researcher & University Teacher, Loughborough University
Richard Johnson’s research traverses illustration as a professional practice, its academic application, and its pedagogies. Richard is currently undertaking a practice-based Ph.D., researching unconventional forms of wordless storytelling. He has illustrated over seventy children’s... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:15am - 9:15am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Translating Research Interests into Teaching I

9:35am CDT

What's Old is New: Illustration and "The Three Perfections"
Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:35am - 9:35am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
The defining characteristic of illustration is an association with reading from 1830. Illustration contributes to reading in partnership with other visual elements in the mise-en-page across all modern print cultures. Reading has changed. The ancient scroll was replaced by the codex but has returned in electronic form. Publishing has receded; newspapers and magazines are disappearing. Fewer commissions are on offer. Today, illustrators are embracing authorship. But creating an entire work transcends the binary of "word and image." An ancient version of transcendence was captured in the expression "the three perfections," attributed to Wang Wei (699-759), referring to poetry, painting, and calligraphy. The triad has been updated and reinvigorated to encompass copywriting, illustration, and typesetting or lettering. This presentation will use Wang’s concept and episodes in the history of illustration to address the integration of writing, illustration, and design to reclaim illustration as a practice worthy of emphasis in liberally-minded curricula.
Speakers
avatar for DB Dowd

DB Dowd

Professor and Faculty Director, DIRA, Washington University in St. Louis
D.B. Dowd is a writer, illustrator, and scholar under contract with Princeton University Press for Reading Pictures: A Cultural History of Illustration. His book A is for Autocrat: A Trumpian Alphabet, Illustrated (Spartan Holiday Books, 2020) won a national gold Addy award 2021... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:35am - 9:35am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Translating Research Interests into Teaching I

9:55am CDT

Exploring the Intersection of AI and Human Creativity: Empowering Agency in an Age of Uncertainty
Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:55am - 9:55am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
This paper will present the development of a research inquiry that explores the integration of AI image generation methods within narrative based practice. The research seeks to question the nature of creative exchanges, iterations beyond the screen and the implementation of AI within module teaching.
Speakers
avatar for Paul Laidler

Paul Laidler

Senior Lecturer, University of the West of England, Bristol
Paul Laidler is a senior lecturer and researcher in the field of graphic arts at the University of the West of England, Bristol. He has a Ph.D. in collaborative digital print studio practices with a focus on technologically enabled creativity, content, and comment. He is an associate... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 9:55am - 9:55am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Translating Research Interests into Teaching I

10:15am CDT

Session Moderated Q&A
Wednesday July 10, 2024 10:15am - 10:15am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Shreyas R Krishnan

Shreyas R Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Shreyas R Krishnan is an illustrator-designer from Chennai, India, who makes non-fiction comics and zines on gender, visual culture, memory, and complex social issues. She is an assistant professor at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 10:15am - 10:15am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Translating Research Interests into Teaching I

10:40am CDT

Break
Wednesday July 10, 2024 10:40am - 10:40am CDT
TBA
Wednesday July 10, 2024 10:40am - 10:40am CDT
TBA
  Prisms

10:50am CDT

Developing a Proposal for a Publisher
Wednesday July 10, 2024 10:50am - 10:50am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Specifically focused on academic book projects (those for students, scholars or practitioners), this interactive workshop session will include tips and advice on framing book proposals, how to choose a publisher, what to consider when developing your ideas and time for questions. The event will showcase real-life examples, and there will be activities for participants to get involved in.
Speakers
avatar for Louise Baird-Smith

Louise Baird-Smith

Publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing
Louise Baird-Smith is a publisher at Bloomsbury Visual Arts, managing and commissioning for the academic design book list. The list includes books on a range of design topics — from typography and product design, to service design and, of course, illustration — and it publishes... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 10:50am - 10:50am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms

11:50am CDT

Lunch Break
Wednesday July 10, 2024 11:50am - 1:15pm CDT
TBA
Wednesday July 10, 2024 11:50am - 1:15pm CDT
TBA
  Prisms

12:00pm CDT

Portfolio Review
Wednesday July 10, 2024 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
If you have a ticket, please go to the MacMillan Atrium at the Minneapolis Institute of Art for your portfolio reviews.
Wednesday July 10, 2024 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Events

1:00pm CDT

Be Your Own Archivist: A How-To Guide
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Need to get your physical papers and digital files in order? Get organized with professional archivist and multidisciplinary artist Grace Danico! She will teach the ins and outs of creating a personal archive, and topics will include basic care of paper and digital materials, file structure organization, and the importance of metadata.
Speakers
avatar for Grace Danico

Grace Danico

Co-Vice President + Treasurer, ICON12 Board
Grace Danico is a Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist, designer, and archivist from Los Angeles. She enjoys creating bold, colorful, playful experiences across various disciplines and is currently an Art Director at Meta and Vice President and Treasurer of ICON12.
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Lecture

1:00pm CDT

Costumed Figure Drawing
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Join Savannah College of Art and Design Professor Ted Michalowski in this high energy live drawing session, with lively music to amplify this enthusiastic drawing atmosphere. Discussion on drawing, on the music, on the direction of the session is encouraged. However, the session is kept free of disruptive chit-chat, so that all can focus on energetic drawing. Attendees are encouraged to bring their sketchbooks and their favorite drawing tools.
Speakers
avatar for Ted Michałowski

Ted Michałowski

Ted Michałowski’s is a professor of illustration at SCAD. His work as a courtroom artist for media coverage of high-profile trials has been broadcasted by CNN, CNN en Español, CBS News, ABC News, and Fox News. Michałowski has contributed illustrations to other clients such as... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

1:00pm CDT

Sketchbooks: Looking In, Looking Out
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Sketchbooks are an important way for illustrators to develop material to call upon later within a job context. Sketchbooks are free from expected outcomes and time constraints, an open space for exploration and contemplation. There's no right way to maintain a sketchbook practice, but we're going to explore ways it can be used. Sketchbooks can look inward, visually manifesting your inner dialogue. Sketchbooks can look outward, a tool to understand the world around you. They sometimes fall somewhere between these two approaches, a dialogue between your imagination and surroundings. We'll share examples of illustrator's sketchbooks, including Gina's and Matt's inward and outward facing approaches. Then it's a drawing party for sketchbook exploration together. We'll have lots of visual stimuli, but feel free to bring your own. Similarly, we'll have some ink, pens, paint markers, and gouache on hand, but bring your favorite stuff too. Then, of course, bring your sketchbook!
Speakers
avatar for Gina Triplett

Gina Triplett

Gina and Matt
Gina Triplett is one half of Gina and Matt, an illustration studio. Their art has appeared on murals, packaging, books and snowboards for clients that include Whole Foods, Urban Outfitters, and The New York Times.
avatar for Matt Curtius

Matt Curtius

artist, Gina and Matt
Matt Curtius is one half of Gina and Matt, an illustration studio. Together, they’ve enjoyed exploring a wide variety of illustration projects, appearing on everything from murals to marijuana and from soap to snowboards. Outside the studio, he’s an associate professor at the... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

1:00pm CDT

What Does AI Mean for Copyright?
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
In this workshop, San Francisco arts lawyer Chuck Cordes will look at how AI image-generating programs are creating some brand-new issues for illustrators and other visual artists that copyright law wasn't 100 percent intended to deal with. We'll talk about government efforts to regulate AI; lawsuits aimed at AI giants like Open AI, Microsoft, and Stability AI; and look at how courts are treating claims of mass copyright infringement of artists' works. And we'll touch on other theories that plaintiff-artists are relying on, like right of publicity and unfair competition. We'll explore the copyright status of AI-generated art and what that means for makers and users of AI generated images. Audience questions are invited and it is hoped this will be equal parts lecture and dialog. This is a quickly evolving area. If other important matters relating to artists' rights and AI arise, we'll look at those, too.
Speakers
avatar for Chuck Cordes

Chuck Cordes

Attorney, Law Office of Chuck Cordes
Chuck Cordes is an arts attorney and forum host for the Art Brand Alliance’s legal group. In his private practice, and through the ABA, Cordes addresses art-business matters, ranging from copyright and trademark to entity formation and operations. He lives in San Francisco.
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Lecture

1:15pm CDT

Envisioning A Collaborative Studio: Illustrators, Designers, Artists & Community Partners
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:15pm - 1:15pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Imagining education through the prism of collaboration, MICA faculty Rebecca Bradley and Sandra Maxa developed the graduate-level course, Graphic Design/Illustration Collaborative Studio, to fill a void in the curriculum. The course guides students through team-based, multi-disciplinary projects for non-profit clients and community partners. This presentation will share project case studies, workshops and lessons from 3 semesters, as well as stories of success and failure along the way. Collaboration and communication are the key outcomes — amongst the students, the co-teaching faculty and the clients. Students from diverse backgrounds and majors such as Curatorial Practice, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Social Design and Design Leadership learn the challenges and the give-and-take of collaboration, and how, when engaged fully in teamwork, a project can be doubly rewarding. Students form a new understanding of professional practice that builds an appreciation for others and a process that is foundational.
Speakers
avatar for Sandra Maxa

Sandra Maxa

Professor and Director, Graphic Design MA program, Maryland Institute College of Art
Sandra Maxa is a designer, author and educator. She is partner at Q Collective, a multi-disciplinary studio that creates identity, interactive, books and exhibitions. She teaches and directs the graphic design M.A. program at Maryland Institute College of Art. She has published books... Read More →
avatar for Rebecca Bradley

Rebecca Bradley

illustrator and educator, Program Director MA Illustration , MICA
Rebecca Bradley is an illustrator and educator originally from England, now living and working in Maryland. She co-developed the M.A. in illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art and has been program director since Fall 2018. As an illustrator, she has created images for... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:15pm - 1:15pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom I

1:35pm CDT

Research and Writing in the Illustration Classroom
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:35pm - 1:35pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Where and how are BFA illustration students taught about research and writing in their practice? In this talk we will discuss the implementation of research and writing outcomes in the PCAD Illustration program including scaffolding, resources, successes, and areas for improvement.
Speakers
avatar for Caitlin Downs

Caitlin Downs

Professor, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Caitlin Downs teaches communication, literature, and creative writing in the liberal arts department at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. She also serves the college as the director of the Writing Center and provides students with academic support in writing. Her specializations... Read More →
avatar for Robert Young

Robert Young

Illustration Department Chair, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Robert Young is an illustrator, animator, comic artist, and printmaker. He is also chair of the illustration department at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. He likes a lot of texture and dreamy weirdness in his work.
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:35pm - 1:35pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom I

1:55pm CDT

How Critical Reflective Methods Can Inform Studio Practice
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:55pm - 1:55pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
For over ten years, the Masters in Illustration program at The Glasgow School of Art has developed critical reflective methods to inform students' studio practice. The program requires students to identify their position in communication design practice within a broader historical, social, and political context. The program has been transformational in helping students identify and locate their practice in this landscape, resulting in graduates pursuing careers as practitioners, researchers, curators, and art activists. I will reflect on the range of approaches employed by the team over this period, their effectiveness in supporting students to reflect critically on their studio practice, and how the program has enabled students to transform their practice. Examples of student work will provide context alongside graduate feedback on how the critical reflective methods have informed their studio practice. Keywords: Illustration research, authorial practice, critical reflective methods.
Speakers
avatar for Brian Cairns

Brian Cairns

Glasgow School of Art
Brian Cairns is an illustrator, researcher, and program leader for the master's program in Communication Design at The Glasgow School of Art. His work for clients, including The New York Times, Ridley Scott Associates, and Nike, have received international awards from Design & Art... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 1:55pm - 1:55pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom I

2:15pm CDT

Worldbuilding in the Classroom
Wednesday July 10, 2024 2:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
With recent technological advancements, it is becoming increasingly important to train illustrators who are thinkers first and foremost. Worldbuilding, the process of creating both the visual language and imagined inner-workings of an environment, encourages students to create constraints based on an internal logic, and practice working within them. Worldbuilding further adds authorship to the design process, and opens dialogues on ecology, culture, history, and representation while giving students a channel in which to find and develop their visual voice. In this presentation, I will outline a working model for integrating worldbuilding into illustration curriculum. Illustration: World and Voice, an undergraduate course I have taught for the past two years, centers around a comprehensive, semester-long project exploring a simple prompt: create a travel journal for a world that doesn’t exist.
Speakers
avatar for Michael Hirshon

Michael Hirshon

Assistant Professor, University of Utah
Michael Hirshon is an assistant professor at the University of Utah, where he heads its illustration program. He has spent the past decade drawing on everything from book covers to beer cans for some of the world's biggest brands and publications. His work has been recognized by the... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 2:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom I

2:25pm CDT

Session Moderated Q&A
Wednesday July 10, 2024 2:25pm - 2:25pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Shreyas R Krishnan

Shreyas R Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Shreyas R Krishnan is an illustrator-designer from Chennai, India, who makes non-fiction comics and zines on gender, visual culture, memory, and complex social issues. She is an assistant professor at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 2:25pm - 2:25pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom I

2:55pm CDT

Break
Wednesday July 10, 2024 2:55pm - 2:55pm CDT
TBA
Wednesday July 10, 2024 2:55pm - 2:55pm CDT
TBA
  Prisms

3:10pm CDT

Home Truths: Folk Illustration as a Lens to Explore Place and Identity
Wednesday July 10, 2024 3:10pm - 3:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Folk Art values tradition, simplicity and honesty as a reflection of ‘shared cultural aesthetics and social issues’ (Museum of International Folk Art) forming models of cultural heritage. Often associated with settler communities, Folk Art has historically enabled much-needed identification and generated a sense of belonging for migrant peoples displaced from their original homelands, sometimes through choice, but often through necessity of seeking asylum or claiming refugee status as a result of political estrangement or persecuted for minority religious or gender beliefs. These transitory peoples and communities often recognise Folk Art as providing a welcome and comforting sense of relief from persecution, by establishing and nurturing communities who share memories and tales of their collective pasts and promote hopes for their new lives and futures. This paper explores what the term ‘Folk Illustration’ might mean through a negotiated relationship between contemporary interpretations of folklore text and images.
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Selby

Andrew Selby

Associate professor Illustration and Animation, Loughborough University
Andrew Selby is Associate Professor in Illustration and Animation. From 2011 - 2014 he was Head of the School of the Arts and oversaw it become then Top 40 QS World-ranked for Art and Design. From 2013 to 2019, Andrew served as Associate Dean for Enterprise. He is author of several... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 3:10pm - 3:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Education through Museums, Archives, Special Collections

3:30pm CDT

Let's get physical: the use of Archives and Special Collections in supporting Undergraduate Illustration students at Edinburgh College of Art to develop and communicate richer and more varied personal research methodologies
Wednesday July 10, 2024 3:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Edinburgh offers the luxury of an unusual wealth of Museums, Archives and Special Collections. On the Illustration programme at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), we use Archives and Special Collections in supporting Undergraduate students to develop and communicate richer and more varied personal research methodologies. This paper draws together reflections of students, staff on the Programme, Curators, Archivists and broader scholarship on the use of Collections in Higher Education pedagogy. In doing this I seek to map out ways of nurturing rich and sophisticated research methodologies when working with Illustration students. In reflecting on how students actually learn to undertake research, this presentation considers how effectively the pathway model in use at ECA guides students to explore, question and value a broader variety of materials in much more depth.
Speakers
avatar for Lucy Cloke

Lucy Cloke

Lecturer in Illustration, University of Edinburgh
Lucy Roscoe is an educator and illustrator based in Edinburgh, Scotland. She works with a variety of illustration clients and collaborates with national libraries, museums and archives. Research interests include sculptural book works and the role of the book form in pedagogy, and... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 3:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Education through Museums, Archives, Special Collections

3:50pm CDT

Drawing Connections: Developing Special Collections Curriculum for Illustration Pedagogy
Wednesday July 10, 2024 3:50pm - 3:50pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Launched in Fall 2019, Washington University in St. Louis’ MFA in Illustration and Visual Culture (IVC) program offers students a multidisciplinary illustration education that not only aims to develop their illustration practice but also the research and critical analysis skills necessary for academia. The IVC program required curriculum includes over studio courses and research seminars, as well two Special Collections courses taught by Washington University Libraries staff. As the program has developed, the Special Collections courses have adapted to better complement and connect to the rest of the IVC program. This paper will provide an overview of this curriculum development as well as the challenges and successes of this instruction from the perspective of the library faculty.
Speakers
avatar for Joy Novak

Joy Novak

Head of Special Collections, Washington University in St. Louis
Joy Novak is the head of special collections at Washington University in St. Louis. She also serves as faculty in the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts’ illustration and visual culture MFA program. She earned her Ph.D. in Information Studies at UCLA and her M.A. in public... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 3:50pm - 3:50pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Education through Museums, Archives, Special Collections

4:00pm CDT

Bus from Minneapolis Institute of Art to AC Hotel
Wednesday July 10, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
For AC Hotel guests, the bus will run continuously from the Minneapolis Institute of Art to the AC Hotel for one (1) hour.
Wednesday July 10, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  General Conference

4:10pm CDT

Session Moderated Q&A
Wednesday July 10, 2024 4:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Shreyas R Krishnan

Shreyas R Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Shreyas R Krishnan is an illustrator-designer from Chennai, India, who makes non-fiction comics and zines on gender, visual culture, memory, and complex social issues. She is an assistant professor at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Wednesday July 10, 2024 4:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Education through Museums, Archives, Special Collections

6:00pm CDT

Motion Commotion
Wednesday July 10, 2024 6:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Lumber Exchange
Motion Commotion is a curated screening of animation and motion shorts.
Wednesday July 10, 2024 6:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Lumber Exchange
  Events
 
Thursday, July 11
 

6:30am CDT

Bus from AC Hotel to Minneapolis Institute of Art
Thursday July 11, 2024 6:30am - 7:30am CDT
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
For AC Hotel guests, the bus will run continuously from the AC Hotel to the Minneapolis Institute of Art for one (1) hour.
Thursday July 11, 2024 6:30am - 7:30am CDT
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
  General Conference

7:59am CDT

Check-In Open
Thursday July 11, 2024 7:59am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Please check-in and claim your badge at the ICON12 Check-In Table at MIA at the following times:
• Tuesday: 2-4pm, Main lobby
• Wednesday-Thursday: 8am-4pm, Main lobby
• Friday-Saturday: 8am-4pm, MacMillan Atrium

8AM Wednesday Morning Workshop attendees will find their badges at their Workshop.

Remember to always wear your badge—and feel free to make it your own!
Thursday July 11, 2024 7:59am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  General Conference

8:00am CDT

Combining Analog + Digital Media
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
This workshop will focus on breaking down the barriers between analog and digital media, discussing how they can be integrated, how you can bring analog processes into the digital space, along with time for collaborative hands-on experimentation with both physical materials and digital tools.
Speakers
avatar for Kelsey King

Kelsey King

Illustrator and Educator, MCAD
Kelsey King is a freelance illustrator, painter, and educator located on St Paul’s east side. Kelsey’s passion for illustration lies in depicting the beauty of the natural world, focusing on landscapes, light, and the changing seasons.
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

8:00am CDT

Gouache and Cut Paper
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
In a digital world, getting out the paints and cutting pieces of paper might be exactly what your creative heart is yearning for. Join this colorful workshop with illustrator Mirna Stubbs. New to gouache? Stubbs will go over the basics of water-soluble gouache and have a few assignments ready to get you started. Materials, tips and tricks, and a relaxing environment will be provided. Feel free to bring your own favorite brushes, sketchbooks, and other tools.
Speakers
avatar for Mirna Stubbs

Mirna Stubbs

Artist
Mirna Stubbs finds a personal language in illustration, drawing from her Bosnian heritage. Moving and traveling has created a love for connection through this universal language of art. As an artist at Hallmark, Stubbs has developed a portfolio rich in color, decorative patterns... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

8:00am CDT

Less Thinking, More Drawing: An Improvisational Approach to Story & Idea Generation
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Sometimes, as creative professionals, we allow ourselves too much time thinking by way of note taking, or thinking by way of editing, and not enough time thinking by way of drawing itself. Less Thinking, More Drawing is an introduction to a guided improvisation practice that can be implemented for artists and students alike. Participants will be led through a series of variations of a game called Silly Drawing, allowing chance to dictate the main elements of each drawing. Each round is drawn quickly, so as not to allow one's inner critic to have too much of a say. By the end of this workshop each participant will have created a new cast of characters, and an accordion book that tells a story focusing on one of them, with a plethora of new ideas waiting to be developed further.
Speakers
avatar for Lauren Simkin Berke

Lauren Simkin Berke

Illustrator and Educator, FIT, SVA, Parsons
Lauren Simkin Berke is a Brooklyn based artist, illustrator, and educator, exhibiting with A.I.R. Gallery, and teaching at Fashion Institute of Technology, School of Visual Arts, and Parsons. Lauren draws for clients such as The New York Times, MIT Technology Review, Simon & Schuster... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

8:00am CDT

Texture Game Strong
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Join True Grit Texture Supply creative director Andrew Fairclough as he teaches you how to step up your texture game with a selection handmade textures, brushes and tools plus a bunch of tricks and tips you'll wonder how you lived without.
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Fairclough

Andrew Fairclough

Creative Director, True Grit Texture Supply
Andrew Fairclough is a Los Angeles based Australian Illustrator, Designer and Art Director. In early 2016 Andrew founded True Grit Texture Supply as a one stop shop for some of the worlds finest quality textures, photoshop brushes and resources for the texturally minded creative... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

8:00am CDT

Finding The Feelings – Bringing Emotion To Your Work
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
There are simple beautiful moments happening all around us every day that we often miss. And when we miss these little moments we miss the chance to bring their emotional impact into our work. If we can get past the flatness of our work and reveal what we feel, audiences may find a deeper connection to our work. And we may find another gear to our storytelling voices. This workshop is designed to help you discover those emotional stories around you and in your heart regardless of how awkward, uncomfortable or embarrassing they might be. You'll learn ways to connect with these simple moments, and translate them into the work you do and your daily professional practice. We may cry a little, we'll definitely laugh a lot, and we'll leave with some tools to find all the feels in our lives and our audience.
Speakers
avatar for Brian Rea

Brian Rea

Artist / Author, Studio BR AB
Stockholm-based artist Brian Rea gained widespread recognition for his minimalistic yet emotionally charged illustrations in The New York Times column “Modern Love”. His creative reach extends to books, magazines, fashion, film, and public installations. Some of his distinguished... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 8:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

9:00am CDT

Exploring the Relationship Between Drawing and Memory
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:00am - 9:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Human memory can often be unreliable. Because of this, memory refresher systems called mnemonics are frequently used in written and visual learning systems to aid in recall of important information. Drawing has been used as a mnemonic device with studies proving it to be highly effective in elevating recall. Unfortunately, drawing mnemonics are not widely utilized and there has been limited academic discussion from the perspective of artists or designers. There is yet to be any form of research into how skills developed as an illustrator can improve the success of drawing based mnemonics. This study evaluates the current understanding of drawing’s connection to memory and documents the construction and testing of new drawing-based mnemonic systems. The results of this research will aid in educational practices for illustrators and non-illustrators. As well as demonstrate the benefits of practiced illustration beyond the final physical outcome.
Speakers
avatar for Jeremiah Nordholt

Jeremiah Nordholt

Graduate Student, Kent State University
Jeremiah Nordholt focuses much of his professional work on illustration, as well as his academic research. His thesis explorers the effects illustration has on memory, and how studying techniques in illustration and design can change this effect.
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:00am - 9:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Graduate Lightning Panel

9:10am CDT

Illustration as a Framework
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:10am - 9:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
As a framework, illustration functions like a tool for reflection and action, giving artists a revisionary process and a foundation for critical consciousness needed to make the visual language and narrative necessary for unpacking the intersections of identity.
Speakers
avatar for Frankie Gutierrez

Frankie Gutierrez

MFA Candidate, California State University, San Bernardino
Frankie Gutierrez is an illustrator, printmaker, and current MFA candidate working within the Inland Empire's print and self-publishing book art communities. Utilizing bright colors and silly faces, they endeavor to highlight the playful nature of gender fluidity, and non-mainstream... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:10am - 9:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Graduate Lightning Panel

9:20am CDT

Urban Wonder Amid "Urban Crisis": The City in Children's Picture Book Illustration (1960 - 1989)
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:20am - 9:20am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
The ICON12 Education Symposium examines how illustration's history and presence can help envision its future. How might we look back, ahead, and closely to illuminate connections between research, practice, and education for students and professionals?
Speakers
avatar for Sigrid Peterson

Sigrid Peterson

MFA-IVC Washington University
Sigrid Peterson is a writer, illustrator, and researcher, receiving her MFA in illustration and visual culture in May 2024 from the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. She leverages previous master's degrees in human geography, literary... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:20am - 9:20am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Graduate Lightning Panel

9:30am CDT

Session Moderated Q&A
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:30am - 9:30am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Shreyas R Krishnan

Shreyas R Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Shreyas R Krishnan is an illustrator-designer from Chennai, India, who makes non-fiction comics and zines on gender, visual culture, memory, and complex social issues. She is an assistant professor at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:30am - 9:30am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Graduate Lightning Panel

9:45am CDT

Journal of Illustration
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:45am - 9:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
This presentation introduces The Journal of Illustration to prospective readers and contributors. The journal is an academic publication disseminating scholarly articles on illustration practice. Together with Illustration Research network it is a platform where people of illustration, people teaching and studying illustration and people practicing illustration can find those articles that help ground and lift understanding, feed curiosity and inspire thinking differently on what illustration is or does.
Speakers
avatar for nanette hoogslag

nanette hoogslag

Senior Lecturer, Course Leader, Cambridge School of Art
Nanette Hoogslag is an illustrator, designer, lecturer and researcher, and the principal editor of the International Journal of Illustration. In practice and theory, she explores the role and the potential of illustration within traditional print-based, digital, and emergent media... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 9:45am - 9:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms

10:00am CDT

Break
Thursday July 11, 2024 10:00am - 10:00am CDT
TBA
Thursday July 11, 2024 10:00am - 10:00am CDT
TBA
  Prisms

10:10am CDT

Applying Trauma-Informed Strategies in the Illustration Classroom
Thursday July 11, 2024 10:10am - 10:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
The United States is experiencing an unprecedented youth mental health crisis and research indicates that students from marginalized communities experience even more significant stressors. As we emerge from a global pandemic, it is clear that trauma increasingly impacts students' ability to focus and perform in our classrooms. As instructors within the higher education system, it is our responsibility to foster classrooms, online learning spaces, and communities that are conducive to learning in this challenging moment. In this presentation I will offer trauma-informed strategies and concrete examples of practices and assignments we can apply to our illustration pedagogy to create the structure, trust, and cultural awareness necessary to create a student-centered learning environment where students can thrive.
Speakers
avatar for Alison Nowak

Alison Nowak

Associate Professor, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Alison Nowak is an associate professor at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her academic interest is in teaching students to use thoughtful research, in-person observation, and lived experiences to move the field of illustration towards more accurate, equitable symbol use.
Thursday July 11, 2024 10:10am - 10:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom II

10:30am CDT

Teaching Illustration for Augmented Reality: Preparing Students for Immersive and Interactive Experiences
Thursday July 11, 2024 10:30am - 10:30am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
This paper explores the process of illustration education as it relates to the augmented reality (AR) format. Professors collaborated with students from various disciplines, such as editorial, character, Motion Design, and Emerging Media to develop unique digital content for holographic screens and AR platforms. The project focused on students' exploration of user experience, embodiment, and immersion, which influenced the creation of augmented illustrative content. The study challenged traditional editorial and character design in light of AR integration. This examination covers the contemporary (and historic) evolution of illustration for AR and its translation into pedagogy. It demonstrates how effective pedagogy helped students master the skills and concepts necessary for creating compelling AR experiences. Classroom findings contribute new knowledge to teaching and designing modular illustrative elements for virtual and emerging digital landscape. The study emphasizes the significance of AR technology in illustration education, enabling students to excel in this evolving digital realm.
Speakers
avatar for Chad Lewis

Chad Lewis

Assistant Professor, Kent State University
Chad is a character designer, comic artist and editorial illustrator with clients such as BOOM! Entertainment, Marvel, Humanoids Publishing and the Department of Labor. Throughout his work, Chad likes to incorporate a wide range of tools to tell unique visual stories. He divides his... Read More →
avatar for Joel Zika

Joel Zika

Dr, Kent State University
Dr. Joel Zika is an experience designer whose digital works are featured in collections and public spaces around the world. Recently his work appeared in the books ‘Darkness and Light in Australia Art’ and ‘Digital Light’ from Fibreculture books. His PhD received an Australian... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 10:30am - 10:30am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom II

10:50am CDT

Ways of Searching: Experiments in Seeking Illustration Inspiration
Thursday July 11, 2024 10:50am - 10:50am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Trial and error accounts of pushing students towards creating original illustration while circumventing algorithm and AI-related issues.
Speakers
avatar for Priyanka Kumar

Priyanka Kumar

Maryland Institute College of Art
Priyanka Kumar is an illustrator and visual storyteller from Kolkata, India. She teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and art directs for Anchovy Press, a printmaking-focused publishing project that centers BIPOC+ stories.
Thursday July 11, 2024 10:50am - 10:50am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom II

11:10am CDT

Rethinking the History of Illustration Survey
Thursday July 11, 2024 11:10am - 11:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
In this presentation I outline how the pedagogy of illustration history has changed since I began teaching it in 2009. I discuss the origin and traditional content of such courses in the US and Canada, the strengths and weaknesses of those inherited approaches, and how I have tried to address evolving needs over the years in response to demands for greater diversity, accommodations of learning styles and disabilities, online pandemic delivery, and in 2023, academically underprepared and relatively less socialized students. I review the use of the 2018 History of Illustration textbook that I coedited with Susan Doyle and Whitney Sherman, as well as material I have supplemented the textbook with; and critically discuss some of the active learning exercises and assignments that I have introduced as I have attempted to move away from lecture and exam-based modes. In sum, I interrogate traditional pedagogy and suggest alternatives.
Speakers
avatar for Jaleen Grove

Jaleen Grove

Associate Professor, RISD
Dr. Jaleen Grove’s interests include the history of illustration, illustration studies, and practice-based research in contemporary illustration. She has published in Modernism/Modernity, Canadian Art Review (RACAR), Journal of Writing in Creative Practice, Journal of Canadian Studies... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 11:10am - 11:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom II

11:30am CDT

Session Moderated Q&A
Thursday July 11, 2024 11:30am - 11:30am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Shreyas R Krishnan

Shreyas R Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Shreyas R Krishnan is an illustrator-designer from Chennai, India, who makes non-fiction comics and zines on gender, visual culture, memory, and complex social issues. She is an assistant professor at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 11:30am - 11:30am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Illustration Pedagogy & the Classroom II

11:50am CDT

Lunch Break
Thursday July 11, 2024 11:50am - 1:30pm CDT
TBA
Thursday July 11, 2024 11:50am - 1:30pm CDT
TBA
  Prisms

1:00pm CDT

D.I.Y Vinyl Shirt Workshop
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
During this hands-on workshop focused on creating custom shirts, you will have the opportunity to engage in the entire process of illustrating and instantly producing a personalized t-shirt. After a brief introduction from DINKC, you will start by sketching and conceptualizing your design, followed by digitizing, cutting, and peeling the vinyl material used to create your shirt. Finally, we will heat press them to transfer the design onto the shirt. This unique experience will allow you to take home a custom ready-to-wear shirt that you have personally created! Participants are required to bring their own blank dark or light t-shirt (cotton polyester is best).
Speakers
avatar for DINKC Galicia

DINKC Galicia

ARTIST, DINKC STUDIOS
The DINKC Brand was born in Kansas City in 1990. Heavily rooted in old school cartoons, graffiti/street art influence, and Die De Los Muertos cultura. By utilizing illustrative design at its core, his work expands into galleries, murals, custom merchandise/apparel, and commissioned... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

1:00pm CDT

Finding Your Way Through Comics
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
Do you want to tell resonant, incisive stories that stick with your readers? Suitable for beginners or experienced artists, this workshop will help refine your understanding of how comics work, how to compose them well, and how to use their unique strengths to tell stories that create meaningful experiences for your readers.
Speakers
avatar for J. Marshall Smith

J. Marshall Smith

Artist/Writer
Jonathan Smith is an artist, writer, and educator from Baltimore. Author of Good Girl Laika and Solace County. He tries to make work that is unprecious, articulate, resonant, and nourishing.
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

1:00pm CDT

Publishing 101 for Illustrators
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
How do I craft a great pitch for a new project? Where do publishing professionals go to discover new freelance illustrators? What is the difference between an advance-against-royalties deal and a work-for-hire deal? Chronicle Books editors Natalie Butterfield (AT) and Ariel Richardson (CHL) will answer all these questions and more in this informative, interactive session!
Speakers
avatar for Ariel Richardson

Ariel Richardson

Editor, Children's, Senior Editor, Chronicle Books
Ariel Richardson is a senior editor in Children's at Chronicle Books in San Francisco. She is a versatile bookmaker, working at the intersection of art and impact. She has worked at three independent bookstores on two coasts, and has a masters degree in children’s literature from... Read More →
avatar for Natalie Butterfield

Natalie Butterfield

Editor, Chronicle Books
Natalie Butterfield is an editor at Chronicle Books with eight years of experience helping authors and artists create vibrant visual books of must-have illustrated stationery. She acquires for the adult list and is based in the Bay Area.
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Lecture

1:00pm CDT

The Lettering Lab
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Check Availability & Register
This lettering class is designed to teach students the fundamentals of creating custom lettering! Throughout the class, students will explore various lettering styles and techniques. Additionally, learning how to create unique compositions using different lettering styles, hierarchy, and spacing. Lastly, we will cover proper vectoring techniques (and even interpolation — because why not!) to bring our designs to life in a digital format. The class will provide students with the tools and skills needed to create visually appealing lettering for a variety of applications, from branding to personal projects. Through a combination of mini lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, students will develop their skills and gain confidence in their abilities to create killer lettering. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced designer looking to enhance your skills, this lettering class is the perfect opportunity to create custom type.
Speakers
avatar for Scott Biersack

Scott Biersack

Freelance Designer & Illustrator, youbringfire
Scott Biersack is a designer, illustrator, lettering artist, and type designer. His playful and vibrant work spans all kinds of industries, varying sized companies, and completely different avenues of creativity. Scott has learned there’s more to life than work and it’s a good... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Workshops, Hands-On

1:30pm CDT

The Precarity of Images: Can illustration help us imagine new, more liberatory worlds?
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Precarity of Images examines how theories of worldbuilding common to the science fiction genre are applied to the making of agitational propaganda for liberation movements. In doing so, it questions how both explicit and implicit political images—posters, games, comics, illustrations, social media posts—either light a pathway for making a more just world or limit our ability to imagine alternate futures. Focus will be applied to finding moments where visual lexicons of liberation shift — semiotically, culturally, or aesthetically. Strategies of decoding and recoding our visual world — through discursive questioning, speculative drawing, and acts of “political looking” — are used to understand how broken images are maintained or repaired. Self-reflections from the author’s teaching and illustration practice provide concrete examples of how the theories in this paper have been applied.
Speakers
avatar for Noah Jodice

Noah Jodice

Lecturer, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts
Noah Jodice is a cartoonist and zine-maker currently working in Saint Louis, Mo. His self-published work focuses on our social relationship to image-making and often explores personal anxieties or complex systems through narrative cartoons. He frequently collaborates on community... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Translating Research Interests into Teaching II

1:50pm CDT

Illustration in Colonialism Propaganda
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:50pm - 1:50pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
This session examines a major goal of propaganda during the world wars: recruiting soldiers from colonized countries. The session will review my research on colonialism propaganda, including propaganda used during the British occupations of Tasmania (Lutruwita) and India, and French propaganda used to recruit Sengalese and other African soldiers during WWI, as well as discuss the deep connections between colonialism and war propaganda. Integrating this research with teaching helps explore topics of persuasion and propaganda, as well as explore the basis for the visual language used in racist caricatures, how it was developed for the purpose of propaganda, and how it was eventually adopted into caricatures used in advertising and marketing illustration. Through learning this history, students will hopefully further understand how empires used racist stereotypes in colonial propaganda, how it affected colonized nations and peoples, and how it continues to affect marginalized populations today.
Speakers
avatar for Catherine A. Moore

Catherine A. Moore

Associate Professor of Art, Associate Professor of Art, Georgia Gwinnett College
Catherine A. Moore is a freelance illustrator and an associate professor of art at Georgia Gwinnett College. Selected past clients include The Washington Post, Ralph Lauren, Rao's Homemade, Buzzfeed News, Men's Health, and Atlanta Magazine. Her portrait of President Joe Biden for... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 1:50pm - 1:50pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Translating Research Interests into Teaching II

2:10pm CDT

Sketching Toward Scholarship: Using Drawing as an Entry Point to Research and Long-Form Writing
Thursday July 11, 2024 2:10pm - 2:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
The process of writing an art historical research paper can be a daunting challenge for students in illustration degree programs. This presentation will review how drawing-based prompts can encourage students to use their established, studio-based research as an entry-point into writing-based research.
Speakers
avatar for Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith

Illustrator and Associate Professor, Fashion Institute of Technology
Ryan Hartley Smith usually illustrates, sometimes animates, and is often dancing. His work combines visual reportage, historical research, and memoir to create an illustrated archive of contemporary queerdom.
Thursday July 11, 2024 2:10pm - 2:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Translating Research Interests into Teaching II

2:30pm CDT

Session Moderated Q&A
Thursday July 11, 2024 2:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Shreyas R Krishnan

Shreyas R Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Shreyas R Krishnan is an illustrator-designer from Chennai, India, who makes non-fiction comics and zines on gender, visual culture, memory, and complex social issues. She is an assistant professor at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 2:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms, Translating Research Interests into Teaching II

2:50pm CDT

Break
Thursday July 11, 2024 2:50pm - 2:50pm CDT
TBA
Thursday July 11, 2024 2:50pm - 2:50pm CDT
TBA
  Prisms

3:00pm CDT

Looking Ahead: Illustration Round Table
Thursday July 11, 2024 3:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Whitney Sherman

Whitney Sherman

Director, MFA Illustration Practice, MICA
Whitney Sherman is an award-winning multi-faceted artist who uses drawing, collage, linocut, and design mixing analog and digital worlds. She’s the MICA MFA Illustration Practice Founding Director; is associate editor and contributing writer of the History of Illustration textbook... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 3:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms

4:00pm CDT

PRISMS Closing Remarks
Thursday July 11, 2024 4:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Shreyas R Krishnan

Shreyas R Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
Shreyas R Krishnan is an illustrator-designer from Chennai, India, who makes non-fiction comics and zines on gender, visual culture, memory, and complex social issues. She is an assistant professor at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 4:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Prisms

5:30pm CDT

OPENING CEREMONIES
Thursday July 11, 2024 5:30pm - 6:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Thursday July 11, 2024 5:30pm - 6:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

6:15pm CDT

Reporting from the Labor Camp (Art as a Social Act)
Thursday July 11, 2024 6:15pm - 7:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Presenting selected works from 3 decades of his multidisciplinary practice, Szyhalski examines the labor of witnessing, processing and recording extreme historical phenomena. Special focus is given to the "COVID-19: Labor Camp Report" project (a series of 225 drawings responding daily to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as multiple, simultaneously unfolding crises) and the many forms it assumed since 2020.
Speakers
avatar for Piotr Szyhalski

Piotr Szyhalski

Piotr Szyhalski is a Polish-born and trained multimedia artist working in the United States since 1990. The Minneapolis-based artist’s wide-ranging practice encompasses an array of media and genres, including poster designs, drawings, photographs, painted murals, prints, web-based... Read More →
Thursday July 11, 2024 6:15pm - 7:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

7:00pm CDT

Roadshow
Thursday July 11, 2024 7:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Lumber Exchange
Roadshow is an exciting, one-night-only, pop-up marketplace of illustration, art, and comic works. This event features artists' books, zines, printed ephemera, artist multiples, handmade objects, and more from a diverse and impressive group of national and international exhibitors. This high-energy event is free and open to conference attendees and the public—guests will include art directors, esteemed ICON speakers, and many more illustration and art world professionals.
Thursday July 11, 2024 7:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Lumber Exchange
  Events

7:00pm CDT

Bus from Minneapolis Institute of Art to AC Hotel
Thursday July 11, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
For AC Hotel guests, the bus will run continuously from the Minneapolis Institute of Art to the AC Hotel for one (1) hour.
Thursday July 11, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  General Conference
 
Friday, July 12
 

7:30am CDT

Bus from AC Hotel to Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
For AC Hotel guests, the bus will run continuously from the AC Hotel to the Minneapolis Institute of Art for one (1) hour.
Friday July 12, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
  General Conference

7:59am CDT

Check-In Open
Friday July 12, 2024 7:59am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Please check-in and claim your badge at the ICON12 Check-In Table at MIA at the following times:
• Tuesday: 2-4pm, Main lobby
• Wednesday-Thursday: 8am-4pm, Main lobby
• Friday-Saturday: 8am-4pm, MacMillan Atrium

8AM Wednesday Morning Workshop attendees will find their badges at their Workshop.

Remember to always wear your badge—and feel free to make it your own!
Friday July 12, 2024 7:59am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  General Conference

8:15am CDT

SPONSOR DEMO WASH U
Friday July 12, 2024 8:15am - 8:40am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 8:15am - 8:40am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

8:45am CDT

EMCEE WELCOME
Friday July 12, 2024 8:45am - 9:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 8:45am - 9:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

9:00am CDT

Inspiration Everywhere
Friday July 12, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Get out of that rut and away from your computer and phone to find creative sparks where you least expect them. Recharge your design and illustration process and experience the entire world as a creative playground.
Speakers
avatar for Mike Davis

Mike Davis

Graphic Design Person, Burlesque Of North America
Minneapolis-based graphic artist, husband, food enjoyer, DJ, dog lover, card magician, morning person, daily New York Times game player, rap and funk music-listener, airplane getter-onner, logo looker-atter, sporto, motorhead, geek, slut, blood, waistoid, dweebie, and co-owner of... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

9:25am CDT

Illustration Is My Wife. Silversmithing Is My Girlfriend.
Friday July 12, 2024 9:25am - 9:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Some professionals preach mastery through specialization — focus on one medium, one style, one practice. Sophi is here to endorse creative polyamory — dabbling in mediums you are drawn to outside of your main practice. Sophi will talk through their path from puppet maker to professional illustrator, and how silversmithing and woodturning have revitalized their love of digital illustration.
Speakers
avatar for Sophi Gullbrants

Sophi Gullbrants

Illustrator, Sophi Miyoko Gullbrants
Sophi Miyoko Gullbrants is a Japanese-American artist based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Their work explores human connection and intimacy in relation to food, sexual wellness, and mental health. Their clients include Apple, Google, Nike, The New York Times, and The New Yorker.
Friday July 12, 2024 9:25am - 9:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

9:50am CDT

Human Artists and the Power of Collaboration
Friday July 12, 2024 9:50am - 10:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Illustrators all have unique gifts and powers that make us valuable. This session will explore the path of creatives and how we collaborate with clients and push ourselves to grow and flourish.
Speakers
avatar for Tim O’Brien

Tim O’Brien

Illustrator
Tim O’Brien is an award-winning illustrator whose illustrations have appeared numerous times on the cover of TIME, Der Spiegel, Mother Jones, NY Magazine, and many other periodicals, as well as on the covers of hundreds of books, including the Hunger Games series. Tim is the second... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 9:50am - 10:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

10:15am CDT

BREAK
Friday July 12, 2024 10:15am - 10:40am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 10:15am - 10:40am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

10:40am CDT

EMCEE INTRO
Friday July 12, 2024 10:40am - 10:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 10:40am - 10:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

10:45am CDT

Cultivating Creative Ideas
Friday July 12, 2024 10:45am - 11:15am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Authors Lisa Nola and Lisa Perrin will be in conversation with Chronicle Books editor Natalie Butterfield, discussing the lifecycle of creative projects and how to nurture them with persistence and passion.
Speakers
avatar for Lisa Nola

Lisa Nola

Author, Listography
Lisa Nola is the creator of the Listography Journals, the Listography board game, One List a Day, Date Night In, MINI Memoir journal, and the popular list-making website: Listography.com. With over 1 million copies sold, Nola's mission is to inspire creative auto-biography and reflection... Read More →
avatar for Lisa Perrin

Lisa Perrin

Illustrator, Lisa Perrin
Lisa Perrin is an award-winning illustrator, hand-lettering artist, author, and educator. She is currently a full-time professor of illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration... Read More →
avatar for Natalie Butterfield

Natalie Butterfield

Editor, Chronicle Books
Natalie Butterfield is an editor at Chronicle Books with eight years of experience helping authors and artists create vibrant visual books of must-have illustrated stationery. She acquires for the adult list and is based in the Bay Area.
Friday July 12, 2024 10:45am - 11:15am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

11:20am CDT

Diverse Disciplines: The Art of Balancing Multiple Mediums
Friday July 12, 2024 11:20am - 11:40am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Leeya will discuss the challenges and benefits of working with various artistic mediums, as well as provide a backstory of her transition from Art Director to a full-time Fine Artist, Illustrator, and Director. She will shed light on how artists can ensure consistency while leveraging the unique qualities of each medium. The presentation will also share practical tips and strategies for effectively managing and integrating diverse mediums into an artist's practice.
Speakers
avatar for Leeya Rose Jackson

Leeya Rose Jackson

Art Director, Illustrator
Leeya Rose Jackson is a versatile artist from Detroit who’s currently based in Minneapolis. She is the Founder of Noisemaker design studio and Leeya Makes Noise illustration. Her vibrant work explores themes of identity, including Blackness, femininity, Neurodivergence, and queerness... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 11:20am - 11:40am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

11:45am CDT

Do It For Yourself
Friday July 12, 2024 11:45am - 12:05pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
On the messy overlap of passion projects and professional pursuits, DO IT (FOR) YOURSELF will use Kurt's Illustration, Design, and Indie Publishing practices as a broader reflecting point on the hustle, grind, and just-have-fun-with-it-industrial complex.
Speakers
avatar for Kurt Woerpel

Kurt Woerpel

Interview/TXTbooks
Kurt Woerpel is a graphic designer, illustrator, art director, and a few other things, living and working in Brooklyn, N.Y. He splits his practice between Interview magazine, freelance design work, and TXTbooks, a collectively-run riso publisher. His work has been recognized by the... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 11:45am - 12:05pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

12:10pm CDT

Kaleidoscope
Friday July 12, 2024 12:10pm - 12:40pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
ICON12 attendees get their moment on the main stage with personal and insightful takes on their lives and work.

Kaleidoscope Presenters:
• Gibbs Oilibhear
• Josie Norton
• Michael Byers
• Emory Allen
Friday July 12, 2024 12:10pm - 12:40pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

12:45pm CDT

LUNCH
Friday July 12, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

1:45pm CDT

EMCEE INTRO
Friday July 12, 2024 1:45pm - 1:50pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 1:45pm - 1:50pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

1:50pm CDT

DIY Doesn’t Stop
Friday July 12, 2024 1:50pm - 2:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
In this lively slide show, James Spooner disccuses how the elements of DIY he learned as a zine making punk rocker lead him to a life as an award-winning filmmaker and published author.
Speakers
avatar for James Spooner

James Spooner

Artist, Spooners no fun
James Spooner is an award winning author, illustrator, filmmaker, and tattoo artist. He is the founder of the Afropunk Festival and wants nothing to do with it. For better or worse, his passion for D.I.Y. and punk rock culture permeates every aspect of his life. His graphic novel... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 1:50pm - 2:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

2:15pm CDT

It's OK to Not Be OK: Mental Health Realness
Friday July 12, 2024 2:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Balancing creativity and mental health is a struggle for many creatives. In this candid conversation, artists will openly discuss navigating challenges such as stress, anxiety, and burnout, and ways to build resilience through self-care practices. Moderated by Grace Danico.
Speakers
avatar for Grace Danico

Grace Danico

Co-Vice President + Treasurer, ICON12 Board
Grace Danico is a Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist, designer, and archivist from Los Angeles. She enjoys creating bold, colorful, playful experiences across various disciplines and is currently an Art Director at Meta and Vice President and Treasurer of ICON12.
avatar for Loveis Wise

Loveis Wise

Illustrator, Loveis Wise
Artist and illustrator Loveis Wise is inspired by playfulness and reimagining futures. Currently based in Los Angeles, Loveis' work is centered around liberation and queer/gender-expansive communities. Their constant world-making of playful dreamscapes has allowed them to create a... Read More →
avatar for Matthew James-Wilson

Matthew James-Wilson

Founder, Heavy Manners Library
Matthew James-Wilson is the founder of Heavy Manners Library, an art space in Los Angeles’ Echo Park. From 2012 to 2018, he ran the online art magazine FORGE. James-Wilson has curated art exhibits, worked for various independent record labels, and written for publications including... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 2:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

2:50pm CDT

Truth and Power
Friday July 12, 2024 2:50pm - 3:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Our ideas are implanted through images. In visual storytelling, questioning authority involves scrutinizing the media, cultural norms, and societal expectations that may perpetuate stereotypes or biased narratives. It means critically examining the perspectives and stories that are often overlooked or marginalized. Phillips-Pendleton will discuss going beyond aesthetics and considering the socio-cultural implications of visual content through her journey as a visual storyteller, educator, author, and curator.
Speakers
avatar for robyn pendleton

robyn pendleton

Professor of Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a professor of visual communications at the University of Delaware, visual storyteller, designer, international lecturer, and co-curator for the Norman Rockwell Museum’s exhibition, “Imprinted: Illustrating Race.” She is on the boards of the Norman... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 2:50pm - 3:10pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

3:15pm CDT

BREAK
Friday July 12, 2024 3:15pm - 3:40pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 3:15pm - 3:40pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

3:40pm CDT

EMCEE INTRO
Friday July 12, 2024 3:40pm - 3:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 3:40pm - 3:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

3:45pm CDT

A collaborative conversation about collaborations - how to do them well or not do them at all
Friday July 12, 2024 3:45pm - 4:05pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Artist collaborations are everywhere these days and can be tricky to navigate on a lot of levels: personally, creatively, and financially. Come watch two friends wonder out loud about their past and current brand collabs and what they've learned along the way.
Speakers
avatar for Ashley Mary

Ashley Mary

Artist/designer, Freelance
Ashley Mary is midwest-based multi-disciplinary artist, with an MA in Graphic/Web Design from MCAD. Her creative practice expands from studio work in mixed-mediums with a primary focus on acrylics and collage to commercial work in product and graphic design, as well as mural installations... Read More →
avatar for madison holler

madison holler

owner, rubinski works
Madison Holler is the artist behind Rubinski Works, operating on Anishinaabewaki land (Central Minnesota). She specializes in beadwork and metal artwork and jewelry and well as illustrated works. Madison’s work explores the bridge between traditional craft and modern jewelry making... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 3:45pm - 4:05pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

4:10pm CDT

Advocacy in the Age of AI
Friday July 12, 2024 4:10pm - 4:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Generative AI is causing artist advocates to rethink the fundamentals of how we advocate for our rights: the right to control our work, be treated fairly, and protect our integrity. This session will give an overview of where we are in preserving artists' rights in the age of AI.
Speakers
avatar for Rebecca Blake

Rebecca Blake

Design Director, Optimum Design & Consulting
For more than 30 years, Rebecca Blake has advocated on behalf of illustrators and designers while serving on the boards of the Graphic Artists Guild and the International Council of Design. She is currently a director of the American Society of Collective Rights Licensing. She earns... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 4:10pm - 4:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

4:35pm CDT

Drawn to Illustration
Friday July 12, 2024 4:35pm - 4:55pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
For as long as she can remember, illustration has played a huge role in No‘l Claro's life. From her kindergarten obsession with copying Susan Clark's Health-Tex ads to a fascination with the Fiorucci angels in high school, she was convinced her destiny was to become an illustrator. Art school proved her wrong but did provide the opportunity to study and pursue a craft that would always keep her cozy with illustrators. Claro's session will be a look back at inspiration, sketchbooks, and work and an exploration of where that all led her.
Speakers
avatar for Noel Claro

Noel Claro

Creative Strategist, Netflix
Noël is a Creative Strategist at Netflix, overseeing launches for animated and unscripted titles. Before, she was a design director at truTV and Nickelodeon, a professor at Parsons, and ran a small design studio. She started in magazines (Vogue, Details, Sassy, Nickelodeon Magazine... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 4:35pm - 4:55pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

5:00pm CDT

BREAK
Friday July 12, 2024 5:00pm - 5:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 5:00pm - 5:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

5:30pm CDT

EMCEE INTRO
Friday July 12, 2024 5:30pm - 5:35pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Friday July 12, 2024 5:30pm - 5:35pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

5:35pm CDT

Charting Your Own Course
Friday July 12, 2024 5:35pm - 5:55pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
How do you find your way as an artist when you're surrounded by stars? Will imposter syndrome ever go away? Vashti Harrison will discuss her path toward becoming an author and illustrator of books for young readers and share some tips and tricks she learned along the way.
Speakers
avatar for Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison is the #1 New York Times bestselling creator of children’s books including “Little Leaders,” “Little Dreamers,” and “Little Legends,” as well as the illustrator of Matthew A. Cherry’s “Hair Love,” and Lupita Nyong’o’s “Sulwe,” for which... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 5:35pm - 5:55pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

6:00pm CDT

The Year I Liked Art Again
Friday July 12, 2024 6:00pm - 6:20pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
A personal anecdote about how one stressed out illustrator grappled with burnout and AI, and what they did to revive their enjoyment for art.
Speakers
avatar for Katherine Lam

Katherine Lam

Illustrator
Based in New York City, Katherine Lam is an illustrator whose work focuses on showing emotion through shadows and sunsets.
Friday July 12, 2024 6:00pm - 6:20pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

6:25pm CDT

Spells for Creative Alchemy
Friday July 12, 2024 6:25pm - 6:55pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
A journey of self-discovering through learning from a cycle of alchemizing our creative practices and flow.
Speakers
avatar for Loveis Wise

Loveis Wise

Illustrator, Loveis Wise
Artist and illustrator Loveis Wise is inspired by playfulness and reimagining futures. Currently based in Los Angeles, Loveis' work is centered around liberation and queer/gender-expansive communities. Their constant world-making of playful dreamscapes has allowed them to create a... Read More →
Friday July 12, 2024 6:25pm - 6:55pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

7:00pm CDT

Bus from Minneapolis Institute of Art to AC Hotel
Friday July 12, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
For AC Hotel guests, the bus will run continuously from the Minneapolis Institute of Art to the AC Hotel for one (1) hour.
Friday July 12, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  General Conference

8:00pm CDT

Gallery Show
Friday July 12, 2024 8:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Chambers Gallery
The ICON12 Gallery Show at the Chambers Gallery will bring together pieces of art by conference attendees in a curated exhibition. Artwork on display will be available for purchase.
Friday July 12, 2024 8:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Chambers Gallery
  Events
 
Saturday, July 13
 

7:30am CDT

Bus from AC Hotel to Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
For AC Hotel guests, the bus will run continuously from the AC Hotel to the Minneapolis Institute of Art for one (1) hour.
Saturday July 13, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
  General Conference

7:59am CDT

Check-In Open
Saturday July 13, 2024 7:59am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Please check-in and claim your badge at the ICON12 Check-In Table at MIA at the following times:
• Tuesday: 2-4pm, Main lobby
• Wednesday-Thursday: 8am-4pm, Main lobby
• Friday-Saturday: 8am-4pm, MacMillan Atrium

8AM Wednesday Morning Workshop attendees will find their badges at their Workshop.

Remember to always wear your badge—and feel free to make it your own!
Saturday July 13, 2024 7:59am - 4:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  General Conference

8:15am CDT

SPONSOR DEMO TBD
Saturday July 13, 2024 8:15am - 8:40am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 8:15am - 8:40am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

8:45am CDT

EMCEE WELCOME
Saturday July 13, 2024 8:45am - 9:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 8:45am - 9:00am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

9:00am CDT

The Work Speaks For Itself
Saturday July 13, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Drawing, designing, posters and imPoster syndrome.
Speakers
avatar for Braulio Amado

Braulio Amado

Designer/illustrator, Lemons LLC
Bráulio Amado is a Portuguese graphic designer and illustrator currently living in New York City. He has done work for The New York Times, The New Yorker, A24, Frank Ocean, Robyn, The Rolling Stones and lots of posters.
Saturday July 13, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

9:25am CDT

Learning from Bodegas
Saturday July 13, 2024 9:25am - 9:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Gabrielle Lamontagne is a Creative Director and Illustrator based in New York who often draws inspiration from that city's iconic bodegas and their feline occupants. Since she relocated from Quebec in 2012, bodegas have become frequent subjects in her watercolor paintings. Her design career includes positions at Bodum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and as a creative director at Chobani, where she played a key role in their award-winning rebrand. Gabi’s paintings of blueberries and peaches grace Chobani's packaging redesign, which she‘s always delighted to find for sale at her beloved bodegas.
Speakers
avatar for Ilya Milstein

Ilya Milstein

Artist, Ilya Milstein
Gabrielle Lamontagne is a creative director and illustrator. As a former creative director at Chobani, she worked on their award-winning rebrand. Her watercolors were used on the original rebranded Chobani packaging. Since then, she has been published in The Guardian and illustrated... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 9:25am - 9:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

9:50am CDT

Childhood as the Blueprint
Saturday July 13, 2024 9:50am - 10:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
What sort of art did you make as a child? As illustrators, how can we mine our own childhood for inspiration and ideas? In this session, Magdalena Mora will talk about her path to becoming a children’s book illustrator and how childhood and memory informs her practice. Drawn from years of experience working with youth as an after-school arts educator, Magdalena will also talk about how we can thoughtfully learn from young peoples' experiences and imagination.
Speakers
avatar for Magdalena Mora

Magdalena Mora

Illustrator, Magdalena Mora Illustration and Design
Magdalena Mora is a Chicago and Minneapolis-based illustrator, designer, and arts educator. She has illustrated numerous award-winning books including Stephen Briseño's The Notebook Keeper, Claudia Guadalupe Martínez's Still Dreaming / Seguimos Soñando, and Elana K. Arnold's The... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 9:50am - 10:10am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

10:15am CDT

BREAK
Saturday July 13, 2024 10:15am - 10:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 10:15am - 10:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

10:45am CDT

EMCEE INTRO
Saturday July 13, 2024 10:45am - 10:50am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 10:45am - 10:50am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

10:50am CDT

Embracing the Business Side of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 10:50am - 11:20am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
A light hearted yet informative conversation about navigating the various sides of business in Design and Illustration, with illustrators Salli Swindell and Nate Padavic, founders of the global community "They Draw". Moderated by Sarah Walsh
Speakers
avatar for Nate Padavick

Nate Padavick

Founder, Illustrators For Hire
Nate Padavick is a freelance illustrator and web designer. He is also the co-founder — along with his sister Salli S. Swindell — of the illustration platforms THEY DRAW, Illustrators For Hire, and The Illustrator’s Circle. Padavick splits his time between New York and Miami... Read More →
avatar for Salli Swindell

Salli Swindell

Illustrator, Illustrators For Hire
Salli Swindell is a freelance illustrator who loves color. She is also the co-founder — along with her brother Nate Padavick — of the illustration platforms THEY DRAW, Illustrators For Hire, and The Illustrator’s Circle. Swindell also spends her time hiking and chopping veggies... Read More →
avatar for Sarah Walsh

Sarah Walsh

Advocacy Chair, Tigersheep Friends; ICON12 Board
Sarah Walsh is an illustrator whose projects include picture books, gift products and more. Select clients include PBS, Nosy Crow, The Washington Post, Chronicle, and Blue Q. She’s a mom of two humans and a dog. Music, plants, folk art, the '80's, thrifting, bold color, and vintage... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 10:50am - 11:20am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

11:25am CDT

My Mother Was A Nanny — Our Caribbean-American Story
Saturday July 13, 2024 11:25am - 11:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
In her new vibrant and spirited picture book, artist Laura James pays homage to her childhood in Brooklyn, N.Y., Caribbean immigrants, and to her mother, a homemaker who wore many hats. Often relegated to the background, nannies and domestic workers are seldom the topic of children's stories, yet James achieves at once a deeply personal and universal story. James will speak about how she came to write this book and what it means to tell a children's story with big topics including economy, religion, immigration, and love.
Speakers
avatar for Laura James

Laura James

Artist, Laura James Fine Arts Corp
Laura James’ paintings reflect her life, a world surrounded by women. Her ongoing work, The Nanny Series, abstracts images from her childhood with the use of surrealist painting and postcolonial theory to address issues of gender, work, and motherhood in the lives of domestic workers... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 11:25am - 11:45am CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

11:50am CDT

Kaleidoscope
Saturday July 13, 2024 11:50am - 12:20pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
ICON12 attendees get their moment on the main stage with personal and insightful takes on their lives and work.

Kaleidoscope Presenters:
• Josh Lewis
• Matthew Cook
• Em Spitler
• Alexandra Smith
Saturday July 13, 2024 11:50am - 12:20pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

12:25pm CDT

From Alt Comics to the New York Times
Saturday July 13, 2024 12:25pm - 12:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Tara will describe how her career started by making goofy auto-bio comics and posting them on Instagram, and how it led to getting illustration jobs. Tara's candid autobiographical comics shed lightness and humor on issues related to mental health, addiction, and sexuality.
Speakers
avatar for Tara Booth

Tara Booth

illustrator, self-employed
Tara's candid autobiographical comics shed lightness and humor on issues related to mental health, addiction, and sexuality. Known for her painterly approach to comics, often using bright colors and dizzying patterns- Booth's work has been featured in publications such as The New... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 12:25pm - 12:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

12:50pm CDT

LUNCH
Saturday July 13, 2024 12:50pm - 2:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 12:50pm - 2:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

2:00pm CDT

EMCEE INTRO
Saturday July 13, 2024 2:00pm - 2:05pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 2:00pm - 2:05pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

2:05pm CDT

Folklore Storytelling
Saturday July 13, 2024 2:05pm - 2:25pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
A discussion of the visual language of storytelling and the importance of self expression and intuitive naive art in modern folklore. Self-reflection on the topic of confidence in art, and specifically children's book illustration.
Speakers
avatar for dinara mir

dinara mir

Assistant Professor, Cleveland Institute of Art
Dinara Mirtalipova is an award winning folk artist with a big passion for folklore storytelling, modern children’s books, and classic fairy tales. Mirtalipova is a traditional artist who paints by hand and prefers mediums like gouache and pencils on paper, printmaking, and block... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 2:05pm - 2:25pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

2:30pm CDT

Environmental Comics
Saturday July 13, 2024 2:30pm - 2:50pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Aidan Koch will be discussing environmental comics as a genre, discipline, and pedagogy. In describing how comics operate as a medium, she will outline their unique position to tell ecological stories both historically and into the future. As an artist who has worked in comics, illustration, fine art, social practice, and conservation, she will describe how her experiences have informed this insight and transformed her own work. This talk will consider how artists can shape the lens around climate change, biodiversity loss, and our relations to the earth.
Speakers
avatar for Aidan Koch

Aidan Koch

Aidan Koch is an artist and graphic novelist living and working in the Mojave Desert. Koch’s work has been exhibited widely, including in Los Angeles, Bogota, Paris, and Hamburg. She has released several graphic novels including “Spiral and Other Stories” by New York Review... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 2:30pm - 2:50pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

2:55pm CDT

TBA
Saturday July 13, 2024 2:55pm - 3:15pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
TBA
Speakers
avatar for Caitlin Kirkpatrick

Caitlin Kirkpatrick

Park Life
forthcoming
Saturday July 13, 2024 2:55pm - 3:15pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

3:20pm CDT

BREAK
Saturday July 13, 2024 3:20pm - 3:40pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 3:20pm - 3:40pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

3:40pm CDT

EMCEE INTRO
Saturday July 13, 2024 3:40pm - 3:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 3:40pm - 3:45pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

3:45pm CDT

Against Art: Reflections on Aesthetics, Ethics, and Honesty
Saturday July 13, 2024 3:45pm - 4:05pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Drawing on early career choices shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the George Floyd riots, and mutual aid work, sunshine examines the limitations of engaging with the world as an "artist" (whether as a career or as an identity).
Speakers
avatar for sunshine gao

sunshine gao

Sunshine Gao was born in China and raised in Indiana and Kentucky. Once, they studied moral philosophy and ecology; cooked noodles; and sold produce. Now, they draw stories examining home, the heart, everyday ethics--and the frailty of the narratives we tell about them. In spite of... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 3:45pm - 4:05pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

4:10pm CDT

Form Follows Function
Saturday July 13, 2024 4:10pm - 4:35pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Ronald Wimberly discusses his practice with Matthew James-Wilson
Speakers
avatar for Ronald Wimberly

Ronald Wimberly

LAAB LLC
Ronald Wimberly is an American cartoonist and designer who also works in film and animation. He's published several graphic novels, as well as shorter works for The New Yorker, DC/Vertigo, Nike, Marvel, Hill and Wang, and Dark Horse Comics. He is the recipient of the 2008 Glyph Comics... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 4:10pm - 4:35pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

4:40pm CDT

How to Get Exactly What You Wanted, and Still Not Be Happy
Saturday July 13, 2024 4:40pm - 5:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Happiness is complicated. Here, I discuss the path of my career, and how I got exactly where I wanted to be. Or thought I wanted to be. In this talk, I'll share what having my dream job taught me about where we seek, and sometimes find, happiness.
Speakers
avatar for Mercy Correll

Mercy Correll

Art Director, Sacred Bones Records
Originally from Colorado, Mercy Correll has been practicing design in Brooklyn, N.Y., for over 20 years, covering industries ranging from entertainment, to retail, to banking. Her work has been featured by Monster Children, FACT magazine, Creative Review, and The Village Voice, among... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 4:40pm - 5:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

5:05pm CDT

BREAK
Saturday July 13, 2024 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

5:25pm CDT

EMCEE INTRO
Saturday July 13, 2024 5:25pm - 5:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saturday July 13, 2024 5:25pm - 5:30pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

5:55pm CDT

President's Closing Remarks
Saturday July 13, 2024 5:55pm - 6:15pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Speakers
avatar for Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

President, ICON12 Board
Sara Barnes is an embroidery illustrator and writer. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio stitching pet portraits and other creatures. Her work has been recognized by American Illustration, Embroidery magazine, and others. Her newest book is titled “Threads of Treasure: how to make, mend... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 5:55pm - 6:15pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

6:20pm CDT

Dream Walking
Saturday July 13, 2024 6:20pm - 7:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Art and music of life with husband and wife team Rudy Gutierrez and DK Dyson. Two Dream Walkers traveling independently and together towards their visual and sonic missions. They are dedicated to following their dreams without fear while balancing the real in search of validity in a never ending pursuit of creativity on a daily, no matter the challenges of living this path!
Speakers
avatar for DK Dyson

DK Dyson

Musician/Author/Educator, Illumination Studio
DK Dyson is a vocalist composer who’s recorded and toured extensively. She has composed and performed the television theme songs for the nationally syndicated shows “Our World” and “Black Business Report.” Her voice has been heard on various jingles including Budweiser... Read More →
avatar for Rudy Gutierrez

Rudy Gutierrez

Illustrator/ Artist / Educator, Illumination Studio
Rudy Gutierrez is an award-winning American illustrator and educator born in the Bronx, NY, of Puerto Rican heritage. He has created artworks for films and performances, U.S. Postage stamps, book covers, posters, picture books, and LP / CD covers and exhibited internationally. His... Read More →
Saturday July 13, 2024 6:20pm - 7:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  Mainstage

7:00pm CDT

Bus from Minneapolis Institute of Art to AC Hotel
Saturday July 13, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
For AC Hotel guests, the bus will run continuously from the Minneapolis Institute of Art to the AC Hotel for one (1) hour.
Saturday July 13, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Minneapolis Institute of Art
  General Conference

8:00pm CDT

Closing Party
Saturday July 13, 2024 8:00pm - 11:00pm CDT
First Avenue
ICON12 would not be complete without having First Avenue for our epic Closing Night Party. As one of the longest-running, independently owned and operated venues in the United States, it’s Prince’s old stomping ground and the setting of his movie, Purple Rain.
Saturday July 13, 2024 8:00pm - 11:00pm CDT
First Avenue
  Events
 
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.
Wednesday, July 10
Thursday, July 11
Friday, July 12
Saturday, July 13
AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
Chambers Gallery
First Avenue
Lumber Exchange
Minneapolis Institute of Art
TBA
  • Events
  • General Conference
  • Mainstage
  • Prisms
  • Workshops