A display from The Sweetest 16, an exhibition at the John M. Flaxman Library celebrating Xerox Candy Bar's sixteenth anniversary.

A display from The Sweetest 16, an exhibition at the John M. Flaxman Library celebrating Xerox Candy Bar's sixteenth anniversary.

Comics

Faculty

The MFA in Studio, Comics program's distinguished faculty are nationally and internationally renowned artists, fully involved in the exploration and re-examination of the field. They are well versed in contemporary theoretical debates, and are committed to building a diverse, exciting environment for the exchange of ideas and the production of culture.

Faculty Spotlight

A cover of the book 'Ultrasound' by Conor Stechschulte

Conor Stechschulte

Assistant Professor

Conor Stechschulte is an artist, cartoonist, and screenwriter. He is the author most recently of the graphic novel Ultrasound, published by Fantagraphics, along with dozens of self-published comics. He adapted Ultrasound into the screenplay for a feature film directed by Rob Schroeder and released by Magnolia Films in March of 2022. He has exhibited his work internationally and published with Breakdown Press in London, Colorama Press in Berlin, Cambourakis in Paris, and Coconino Press in Rome, among others. 

Alex Kostiw

Assistant Professor

Alex Kostiw is a graphic designer and artist whose self-publishing practice, Tenderly, explores intersections of design and poetry. Kostiw’s work has appeared in mutliple exhibitions including the Chicago Art Book Fair, LA Art Book Fair, and Chicago Alternative Comics Expo. It has also appeared in collections including the Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection at SAIC, the Chicago Zine Collection at University of Chicago Library, the Zine and Comics Collection at MassArt Library, and more. 

Beth Hetland

Professor, Adjunct

Beth Hetland is the author of the graphic novel Tender, published by Fantagraphics in 2024. She is the co-author of Half-Asleep (Green Key Studios) and has produced a number of other zines and comics throughout her career. Hetland’s work has appeared in Publisher's Weekly, Diabolique Magazine, Voyage Chicago, and High-Low Comics, among others, and she is the recipient of multiple awards for both teaching and art, including a DCASE Grant from the City of Chicago and a Best in Show DiNKy Award from the Denver Indie Comics Expo.