The Society of Illustrators is proud to announce a distinguished roster of guests and a robust programming schedule for the 2024 MoCCA Arts Festival, taking place March 16 – 17, 2024. Programming is located at the SVA Flatiron Gallery (133 West 21st Street), steps away from the Exhibitor Hall at Metropolitan Pavilion.
This year’s featured guests include acclaimed illustrator Anita Kunz, whose latest book Striking a Pose (Fantagraphics Books) subverts the male gaze; Nate Powell, artist of the National Book Award–winning March trilogy and the new graphic novel Fall Through (Abrams ComicArts); award-winning illustrator Edel Rodriguez, whose graphic memoir Worm (Metropolitan Books) relates his family’s journey from Cuba to the United States; cartoonist and illustrator Jillian Tamaki, whose collaboration with Mariko Tamaki Roaming (Drawn & Quarterly) was published this past fall; Adrian Tomine, author of Shortcomings (Drawn & Quarterly), recently adapted into a critically-acclaimed feature film; Maurice Vellekoop, who will discuss his new graphic memoir I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together (Pantheon Books).
All of these artists are featured in this year’s programming schedule alongside others including Caroline Cash, Nate Garcia, Siobhan Gallagher, Corrine Halbert, Beth Hetland, Kevin Huizenga, Daisy Ruiz, Özge Samancı, Karina Shor, Seth Tobocman, K Wroten, and more. International guests at this year’s event include Belgian artists Ephameron and Miel Vandepitte, Taiwanese artist Pam Pam Liu, and French artist Maybelline Skvortzoff. These artists appear with the gratefully acknowledged support of Flanders Literature, the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, respectively.
Organized by MoCCA Programming Director Bill Kartalopoulos, this year’s programming features a wide array of professional, aesthetic, and social topics. Kartalopoulos will lead a special spotlight panel featuring all six artists in the Made in New York exhibit, currently on view at the Society of Illustrators. Artists Josh Bayer, E. A. Bethea, Juliette Collet, Austin English, Angela Fanche, and John Vasquez Mejias will discuss their work and what it means to be an independent artist in New York City today. Other events will include a reconsideration of the resurgent comic book format, a discussion of the challenges and consequences of producing politically committed work, an investigation into body image as a subject for visual books, and an installment of R. Sikoryak’s ongoing Carousel series of performative comics readings. In addition, MoCCA has once again partnered with our programming sponsor, the SVA Department of Continuing Education, to offer two special professional development panels designed to assist aspiring and rising artists in their careers. SVA Comics and Illustration chair Viktor Koen will lead a discussion about managing finances as an independent creative worker, and Bill Kartalopoulos will discuss entry points into comics publishing with a panel of artists and professionals.
An abbreviated programming schedule can be found below, with a full schedule available online at: www.moccafest.org/
Each programming event will last one hour, with a half hour break between programming events. Admission to programming is included with MoCCA Arts Festival admission. All seating is available on a first come-first served basis. Tickets are available to purchase online as well as at the door. More information about the Fest can be found here.
