Award-winning comics artists to share their creative journeys and inspirations during special RIT event on October 9

Rochester, New York – Three celebrated voices from the world of comics and graphic storytelling will come together at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) this week for a special evening celebrating creativity, independence, and the art of visual storytelling. The event, titled Self-Published Worldwide: The Minicomics and Graphic Novels of Briana Loewinsohn, Thien Pham, and Gene Luen Yang, will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, in Ingle Auditorium, located in RIT’s Student Alumni Union.

The free public event will feature a discussion among the three acclaimed artists, who will share insights into their creative processes, their early beginnings in self-publishing, and how their careers evolved to reach international recognition. The conversation will be moderated by Daniel Worden, RIT professor and Cary Fellow in Comics Studies, who specializes in the study of graphic narratives and the social power of visual media.

Following the talk, attendees are invited to a reception and book signing on the first floor of the Wallace Library, as well as in the Cary Collection’s Kubert Lounge and Gallery on the second floor. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view original works and artifacts on display as part of the Self-Published Worldwide exhibit, hosted by RIT’s Cary Graphic Arts Collection.

A celebration of self-publishing and artistic independence

All three featured artists began their careers in the 1990s and 2000s by self-publishing minicomics, small handmade comic books that often served as early creative experiments before larger publishing deals. Those early works, now part of the Cary Collection’s archives, will be showcased during the exhibit to highlight the artists’ growth and lasting impact on the comic book industry.

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Briana Loewinsohn, one of the featured speakers, is best known for her critically acclaimed Ephemera: A Memoir, a deeply personal graphic narrative exploring memory and family. Her latest work, Raised by Ghosts, has been nominated for a Harvey Award for Best Young Adult Book, further cementing her reputation as a bold and introspective storyteller.

Thien Pham, another panelist, is the author of the graphic novel Sumo and the artist behind Level Up, a collaboration with Gene Luen Yang. His 2024 memoir, Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam, received the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best Graphic Memoir, earning praise for its honest and moving portrayal of immigration, family, and food as cultural memory.

Rounding out the trio is Gene Luen Yang, one of the most celebrated figures in modern comics. Yang is the creator of numerous acclaimed graphic novels, including American Born Chinese, which was adapted into a Disney+ series, and Dragon Hoops, an autobiographical story about teaching, basketball, and inspiration. His other notable works include Superman Smashes the Klan and several volumes in Dark Horse Comics’ Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Yang’s most recent release, Lunar New Year Love Story, created in collaboration with LeUyen Pham, won multiple Eisner Awards, including Best Graphic Album. In 2016, Yang was honored with a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, often called the “Genius Grant.”

Exploring art, culture, and storytelling at RIT

The upcoming event offers a rare chance for fans and students to hear directly from three artists who helped redefine the boundaries of comics as both literature and visual art. Together, they represent a generation of creators who turned independent publishing into a platform for personal and cultural storytelling — long before graphic novels became mainstream.

“This event not only showcases the incredible talent of these artists but also highlights the importance of self-publishing as a form of creative freedom,” said Steven Galbraith, curator of the Cary Graphic Arts Collection. “Their work reminds us that comics are powerful tools for sharing identity, history, and emotion.”

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The Self-Published Worldwide exhibit and accompanying talk are open to the public and free to attend. For more information, visitors can contact Steven Galbraith at 585-475-3961 or by email at [email protected].

As October 9 approaches, anticipation continues to build among students, alumni, and local art lovers eager to experience an evening of storytelling, inspiration, and creative insight from three of the most influential voices in contemporary comics.