Nicole Hollander: Where are all the Women Cartoonists?

The work of seven women cartoonists—Alyssa Herlocher, Sarah Becan, Lucy Knisely, Heather McAdams, Corrine Mucha, Jenny Frison, Jill Thompson and me, Nicole Hollander—are on view at the StatiCCreep exhibition at Chicago’s Las Manos Gallery (runs January 14–February 6, 2011). This gathering alone has brought together more women cartoonists than ever graced the pages of daily comic pages of any major newspaper.

Now that newspapers are experiencing their slow lingering death, what’s a young woman to do to hone her craft and get her work seen? The popularity of the graphic novel has given many young artists a way to get published. Many have an online presence in websites and blogs and self publish their work. But are these the only outlets for burgeoning women cartoonists?

I plan to interview some of these women in future blogs and show their work. I’d like this blog to be a place for emerging cartoonists and writers as well as the place that Sylvia and I expose our thoughts about what’s happening around us and a place where readers interact and provide us with new material. Thank you for your comments. I had no idea that the comments would be one of the most pleasurable parts of the blog.

For a virtual tour of the entire exhibition (which includes men, too), visit the  Las Manos Gallery Blog. Or, if you’re in Chicago, stop by the gallery for a look. Below I’ve posted images by the talented women of the StatiCCreep exhibition.

Some of the lady cartoonists from the StatiCCreep Show (from left): Lucy Knisely, Nicole Hollander, Corinne Mucha, Sarah Becan and Heather McAdams. Not pictured: Jenny Frison, Alyssa Herlocher and Jill Thompson.

Heather McAdams, "That's Okay Lars"

Sarah Becan

Lucy Knisely, "Zombies at the Riviera"

Heather McAdams, "Willie Nelson"

Corinne Mucha

Jenny Frison

Jill Thompson, "Scary Godmother"

Alyssa Herlocher