Cross Comix
Festival 2025

Abel Dijkstra (Amsterdam, Netherlands,1998) is a visual storyteller and funny. He makes comics and self-publishes a magazine called Lovely. It’s the most contemporary comics magazine and it’s cool and free (not free of charge but free in spirit).

Abel sees comics as truly a magical way to freeze time and put feelings and invisible things into a reading experience. He’s not bound to a single style but you cannot escape his presence in all his work. You can feel and see and smell that it’s Abel Dijkstra, or Abel or Abelknabel as he sometimes likes to call himself. He currently lives and works in Zwolle: the soon to be capital of Dutch comics.

Aimee de Jongh (1988, she/her) is an award-winning graphic novel author and animator from the Netherlands, whose books are published in more than 30 countries. With roots in the Dutch-Indies, history, migration and human relations are recurring topics in her work.

At the age of 22, Aimee’s career in comics took off with the daily comic strip Snippers for the Dutch paper Metro, which ran for five years. At 25, she published her first graphic novel The Return of the Honey Buzzard, which won the Prix Saint-Michel and was adapted to a live-action film. Her international breakthrough came when Blossoms in Autumn was released, written by Belgian comic author Zidrou. In 2019, Aimee created the autobio TAXI!.

In 2021, Aimee’s most well known graphic novel was released: Days of Sand. The Eisner-nominated book about the Dust Bowl was a bestseller. In 2022 Sixty Years in Winter followed, written by Ingrid Chabbert. In September 2024, her graphic novel adaptation of Lord of the Flies was published in more than 25 countries. A large retrospective of her work was exhibited in the Kunsthal, Rotterdam, in 2024. She published short comics in the magazines Spirou, Metal Hurlant and Fluide Glacial.

Alison Bechdel (1960) is an American cartoonist. Originally known for the long-running comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, she came to critical and commercial success in 2006 with her graphic memoir Fun Home. In 2025 she published the sequel Spent.

More at Wikipedia

Azam Masoumzadeh (aka Zam Zadeh) is an Iranian-born illustrator, filmmaker, and comics artist based in Brussels. Her practice moves fluidly between drawing, virtual reality, and storytelling in both digital and printed forms. Zam creates zines as spaces for inner dialogue and quiet rebellion, often working without text to explore the emotional landscapes of displacement, resistance, and healing.

Her work has been exhibited in South Korea, Canada, Germany, and Belgium, and her self-published comics and fanzines have been distributed through independent bookshops like Rokko and Limerick in Gent. Zam has participated in various zine faires, residencies and immersive storytelling labs across Europe. Her approach remains intimate, feminist, and fiercely independent.

As a drummer in a punk band, Barbara Stok created comics about her experiences in the workd of music. These were so successful that they became her main occupation. Ever since she has published fourteen books, including her biography of Vincent van Gogh, which has been published in more than twenty countries.

Blessing Ossom (1997) studied Business Administration at Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic. As a professional digital artist since 2017, she has worked on several book illustrations, character designs for animated movie projects and comics. She’s worked with NABU in 2023 to create story driven and vibrant illustrations for multilingual children’s books. In 2021, her works were featured in “Exploring all I can do: Hockey”. She’s presently working on her own comic book “Project Ekemini”.

Bob Op ‘t Land (born 1992) is an illustrator and comics artist. He lives and works in Deventer with his girlfriend and two cats. He enjoys getting up early and new sketchbooks. He doesn’t like having his picture taken. Since 2020, he has been drawing autobiographical (gag) comics, which he self-publishes in his one-man anthology “Plumbum.” Bob’s work has appeared in publications including Zone 5300, Spirou (BE), and Métal Hurlant (FR).

Ckoe is an animator and illustrator from (nowadays) the far east of the Netherlands. He made animations for Sesame Street, is the creator of Uier and several cardboard books. Ckoe can be spotted in the wild on a bike overthinking almost anything. His main mission: make the world just a little bit more fun.

Claire Bretécher (1940-2020) dropped out of art school to become a comics artist. In 1963, she met René Goscinny, the writer of Asterix, among others, who wrote a comic strip about a postman for her. She was one of the very few women in the comics world at the time and worked for magazines including Tintin, Spirou, and Pilote.

Bretécher was also a pioneer in another way. In 1972, she co-founded L’Echo des savanes, a comics magazine explicitly aimed at adults. Her international breakthrough came with the comic strip “Les frustrées” (The Frustrated), which addressed female and feminist themes. She self-published it. For her first album, she won the award for best screenplay at the 1975 Angoulême Festival.

Corné van Esterik lives and works in Zwolle. He graduated in Comic Design from ArtEZ University of the Arts in 2024. Corné is part of the Beeldkeuken collective, which is based in Zwolle’s city center. He creates visual stories inspired by nature and the human desire for togetherness.

Dafe Edesiri (1999) studied Film Arts at the National Film Institute, Jos. He started out scoring and doing sound design for student films, as well as storyboards. His first feature film was “Rukkaya” (2022) and he has scored many short films, feature films, series and a couple of animations. Dafe also has music production credits and audio engineer credits on several Albums, EPs and singles.

In 2022, he co-founded Soul Vision Studio with his friend and secondary school mate Jesimiel Bello, they went on to make “Haske”, an animated short film that screened at AFRIFF and AVIJOZI. Dafe is currently collaborating on a few feature films and music projects.

SellFable, by Rotterdam artist Daniël van Nes, is an interdisciplinary art universe merging post-digital elements with human expression. Inspired by mysterious atmosphere of film noir movies, SellFable presents a ‘Machine Noir Art Universe’, inhabited by automated beings in search of a human soul, documented by ‘The Archivist’.

Van Nes’ work, influenced by technology, science fiction, and human behavior, features a unique blend of illuminated engravings, drawings, installations, and animations, forming a dramatic, otherworldly environment.

As ‘The Archivist’, he navigates you through landscapes where the boundaries between digitality and humanity blur, encouraging introspection in a society hurtling towards the future. Each piece invites you to confront shifting notions of self and existence, immersing you in a narrative that is both haunting and thought-provoking.

SellFable has been exhibited globally in venues like Tetem (Enschede), Urban Nation (Berlin), STRAAT Museum (Amsterdam), and the Street Art Museum (St. Petersburg), among others.

Danny Rumbl is an illustrator and artist from Rotterdam The Netherlands where he’s working from his home studio on illustrations, large scale murals and wooden sculptures. His inspiration springs from his love of cartoons and illustrations from the ’60’s and 70’s, nature, food and modern popculture.

With all of this tossed into the pot, it cooks up to many dynamic cartoon-esque, animal-like characters that have a funky human flavor. Art to him means freedom to express who we are, it’s a language everyone can speak

David Yusuf (2000) has been working on comics and animation since he graduated from highschool, then in the art industry, worked at Spoof Animation, currently at Vortex (2023) where he worked on Kenya’s bestseller comic book THE UNDOING.

Ekene Nwonye (1992) studied Graphic design at the University of Lagos (NIG) & cinematography
at Cine Fabrique (FR). Ever since then he has been working on comics and animated
films, representing Vortex Studios as its creative director and an animation producer.
Vortex studios is a sister company to Vortex Corp Nigeria, an organization focused on
exporting African content to a global audience through mediums such as graphic novels,
comic books, 2D/3D animation and interactive media.

In almost thirty years as an artist Eliane Gerrits has illustrated dozens of children’s books. Next to that she works as a live cartoonist at corporate events. In her personal work she is known for her series of self portraits

Eucharia Wanogho (1995) studied Geography and Regional planning at the University of Benin, Nigeria. Her creative journey commenced in 2016 as a fashion illustrator, where she skilfully transitioned into Digital Illustration.

In 2019, Eucharia brought her artistic talents to Comic Republic, making significant contributions as a Comic Colourist. Her dedication and proficiency in her craft were recognised in 2023 when she received the prestigious Comic Colorist of the Year award at Comic-Con Ibadan, Nigeria.

Beyond comics, Eucharia’s artistic prowess extends to freelance work as a digital artist. She has successfully collaborated on numerous projects, including illustrations for children’s books, e-learning materials, and character design and concept art. She had the honour of working with renowned Muralist Cera Cerni, and in 2022, several of her captivating artworks found a place in the Disruptors Series 1 magazine.

Currently serving as the Head of Projects and Procurement at Comic Republic, Eucharia remains a trailblazing force as a Comic Colourist in Nigeria. Her multifaceted talents and leadership role underscore her commitment to the vibrant world of comics and the broader artistic community.

Floor van den Brink graduated as a comics artist from ArtEZ, Zwolle, in 2024 and now works as an independent visual artist, illustrator, and comics artist. She finds inspiration in everyday situations, thoughts, experiences, and observations. The often small, tangible subjects form a multifaceted expression.

This versatility stems from the fact that the story and process are central to Floor’s work. The final result only becomes clear during the process. Her oeuvre ranges from refined pencil drawings to abstract paintings and everything in between.

Florian Magnus Maier (born 1973) studied flamenco guitar with Paco Peña and classical composition with Klaas de Vries at the Rotterdam Conservatory. His musical style is characterized by a relentless exploration of various genres in classical music, world music, rock and metal, and disciplines such as dance, film, and poetry.

Since graduating with honors in 2001, he has written for leading Dutch and international musicians, ensembles, and orchestras, and his music is performed worldwide. As a composer, he has won two grants and the Paul Jacobs Award at Tanglewood, Massachusetts, the incentive prize from the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, and nominations for the Gaudeamus Prize, the UNESCO International Composers’ Rostrum, and Musica Nova.

As a performer, he has performed with the Asko | Schönberg ensemble and the Netherlands Radio Orchestras, among others, and remains active in his metal band Alkaloid. As an arranger, Maier has worked with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Devin Townsend, Triptykon and Paradise Lost, among others.

Fynn van der Ziel (1996) is an artist with a strong affinity for absurdism. Using various media, including plasticine and risography, he creates an unsettling world in which he feels at home.

In 2021, he successfully graduated from Academie Minerva in Groningen, with a film about the earthquake issues in the region. In spring 2022, he realized the mural of Jacobus Cornelius Kapteyn on Oude Kijk in ’t Jatstraat. The following winter, he collaborated with the band Roosbeef on a video for the song “Zomer in Nederland.”

With VIS he won the Small Press Award in 2024.

Gerrie Hondius started her carreer as a comics artist in the 1990’s, with Ansje Tweedehandsje, about a clumsy anti-hero. The series appeared, among others, in Dutch feminist magazine Opzij. Later Hondius took to the stage, initiated a comics agency and worked for television. These days she makes live drawings with sand that are projected on a screen.

Hilal Uzuner (1999) was raised in the Netherlands by her Turkish family. Her art reflects the complexities of living between two cultures. Her work explores themes of heritage, religion, and personal identity, capturing everyday moments, rituals, and stories.

By blending traditional and contemporary elements, she celebrates the beauty and richness of both her backgrounds. Her faith adds a spiritual layer to her exploration of cultural and personal narratives, navigating the in-between spaces where her experiences and inner conflicts arise.

Hilal’s work is a reflection of her ongoing journey to understand herself and her place in the world. Through her art, she aims to foster understanding, challenge preconceived notions, and celebrate the diverse elements that shape her identity.

Hilde Vermeeren (Arnhem, 2002) is a visual storyteller who prefers to delve into graphic arts. Her work is often based on personal feelings from the subconscious and is wrapped in a mythical guise.

During her creative process, she often discovers what the story is actually about. This makes them free, exploratory, and fluid. Hilde sees creating visual stories as a form of storytelling that is incredibly free and malleable, but can also be carried close to you, like a shell from the beach or a favorite stone in your pocket. A story can capture your imagination and make you discover new things every time you read it, all while holding the book in your hands.

Iris van Velzen, known as Droom.iris, is a freelance graphic designer, visual artist, and full-time letter lover based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She specializes in creating visual identities and all kinds of printed matter, such as books and publications. Her artistic practice explores bold typography, vibrant shapes, and printing techniques like Riso printing and screen printing.

She is also an aspiring self-publisher, using Riso as her primary medium. She develops striking visual concepts that combine typography, shape, and color—each uniquely tailored to the project at hand. Iris is fascinated by experimenting with design rules and grids, and enjoys rethinking these frameworks in typography, type design, print, and other materials.

Jakob Akemann (2000, Amsterdam) got his Bachelor degree in Creative Writing (ArtEZ Arnhem) with a comic book about a depressed starfish, an artistic research about the beauty of sadness, and a short story about the only man in the world who is aware that the world will end next Tuesday afternoon. And although it may sound gloomy, its actually a lot of fun.

With a natural sense for absurdism and a developing interest in photography, he started his master studies in Graphic Storytelling (LUCA Brussels) which in june 2025 bore its first real fruit, a comic book called RAMP. This is not the first time Jakob self-published. He already printed a whole bunch of zines, created some short story collections as well as two comic books and co-founded a magazine (De Oswaldt).

Jantiene de Kroon is an Amsterdam based writer and animation producer and co-owner of animation studio Mooves. She has made several animated shorts, a.o. Mortel (2006), Bridge (2010), Aurora (2012), Camouflage (2021) and Four Chambers to the Heart (2023) and she has published short stories in various magazines. Jantiene obtained a BA in creative writing in 2003 and was one of the selected writing talents attending Binger Writers’ Lab in 2009. In 2010/11 she worked as an Artist-in-Residence at Ashkal Alwan in Beirut, Lebanon. In 2013 she attended Nisi Masa’s European Short Pitch.

Jantiene has hosted many meetings and masterclasses for upcoming animators, scriptwriters and worked as a talent coach and story consultant. She currently works on various projects within the immersive story-world Oranova in cooperation with VR-artist Merel Barends and is writing the script for feature animation Marbelles Bloom. Jantiene is a board member of Kaboom Animation Festival.

Jeroen Funke is a comic artist and small press self publisher. He showers the world like a hurricane with his happy art in all kinds of shapes and forms. His house is bursting at the seams with all the different machines, tools and stacks of paper. With his books, zines, stickers, cards, pins, posters and shirts he hopes to bring a smile to your face.

Jesimiel Bello (2001) is a Nigerian self-taught animator with 4 years experience. Jesimiel garnered recognition from a Netflix-branded production, leading to his appointment as a lead visual effects artist and 3D generalist in 2021. Inspired by his personal project “Amina,” Jesimiel and his partner established “Soul Vision Studio” in 2023.

“Amina,” premiered in December 2022, achieved remarkable success, amassing a total of 30 thousand views and resonating with audiences worldwide. Jesimiel also directed an animated short film “Haske,” in 2023 which was screened in more than six festivals globally. “Haske” has not only showcased his creative prowess but has also earned acclaim on the international stage

Jos Derckx (born 1986) is an illustrator and artist from Utrecht. His work is colorful, socially critical, and full of humor and surrealism. He seeks beauty in clean images that encourage introspection. Jos has drawn for Tirade, Vrij Nederland, and Medisch Contact, among others, and lives with his family in Utrecht.

Judith Vanistendael (1974, Leuven) is a Dutch-speaking Belgian comics author, illustrator, and teacher in comics art. She also worked for a time as a children’s book illustrator.

Her breakthrough came in 2007 with the publication of La Jeune fille et le nègre, an autobiographical story in two volumes about the love between a young Togolese and a young Belgian. In 2012, Vanistendael published Toen David zijn stem verloor (David, women and death), whose hero is suffering from cancer and undertakes to change his life. In 2019, inspired by the character of Penelope in the Odyssey, Vanistendael delivered Les Deux Vies de Pénélope, where a doctor mother engages in humanitarian work and distances herself from her family, especially her daughter. (Wikipedia)

Katja Štesl (1991) is a comics critic and a member of the editorial board of Stripburger, an international comics magazine based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. She writes comics reviews and articles for various journals and is mainly interested in contemporary alternative comics. She engages with the comics scene by giving lectures about comics for schoolchildren and adults, hosting talks with authors, and promoting local comics creativity at international festivals and fairs abroad.

Klara Kracina (1999) is a visual artist whose work includes painting, printmaking, drawing, comics, and installation-based practices. In 2022, she graduated in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana and is currently completing her master’s studies in the same field.

In her personal work, she explores themes of identity, national consciousness, and collective nostalgia, while also addressing socially critical issues through humor and cynicism. She is an active member of the art collective Podmladek and was a founding and active member of the art-activist collective Kvadratni meter from 2019 to 2024. To date, she has held six solo exhibitions across Slovenia and has participated in numerous group exhibitions both in Slovenia and abroad

Her comics have been published in the Stripburger magazine.

Lauraine Meyer is a French graphic novelist and illustrator based in the Netherlands. She studied illustration and graphic design in Paris. Committed feminist, she questions gender norms and sexism with humor and a colorful and joyful style. Her main goal is to make complicated subjects more digestable in order to be accessible to everyone.

After a career as art director in advertising, she published Feminists in Progress in 2022, Moi, j’aurais pas fait comme ça in 2024 and Mecs in Progress in 2025. Feminists in Progress is available in Dutch.

Lian Ong (1956) studied illustration in Rotterdam. More or less by accident she ended up as a comic artist in the 1980’s. Her book Stuifmeel (Pollen), a romance between an middle-aged woman and a gay acrobat, was a sensation when it was published in 1989, being one of the first graphic novels in the Dutch language.

Although she did publish a few more stories after her debut, Lian Ong lost interest in comics. Nowadays she concentrates on other things, such as tai-chi.

Since 2005 Liv Strömquist (1978) has published more than ten books, often graphic essays dealing with social topics, such as inequality and feminism. Her work has been translated into over a dozen languages. In her native Sweden she is a public figure, contributing regularly to discussions on radio and television.

The image shown at Cross Comix 2025 caused quite a stir when it was part of a billboard campaign in the Stockholm metro in 2017. Strömquist reacted to the outcry what she was used to her work causing controversy.

Lucie Morel is a French comics artist who has lived with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder since childhood. In her work, she explores ways of representing and making visible the condition that distorts her perception of reality. A graduate of the École Supérieure d’Art de Lorraine, she has exhibited her work in various galleries, mainly in Paris and Metz.

She is currently working on a practice-based PhD at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, focusing on Graphic Medicine and the representations of mental illness and psychological disorders in comics. TOC TOC, her first autobiographical comic about living with OCD, was published on 5 September 2025.

Since Maaike Hartjes first gained recognition in the mid-1990s with the tiny figures in “Maaike’s Dagboekje” (Maaike’s Diary), this has been her primary drawing style. This comic strip was published as a small-press booklet and, after a few years, appeared weekly in Viva magazine. The character of the comic strip changed somewhat, from small jokes to a more realistic diary format. This led, among other things, to Burn-out Dagboek (Burn-out Diary). In 2016, she won the Stripschapsprijs, the most prominent Dutch comics award.

Marcel Ruijters achieved European fame with his biography of Hieronymus Bosch and adaptation of Dante’s “Inferno.” He is also co-editor-in-chief of Rotterdam’s own “Zone 5300,” a magazine about comics, culture, and curiosities.

Marguerite Abouet (1971) is an artist from Ivory Coast, who lives in France. Her series Aya de Yopougon, about a girl growing up in Ivory Coast, currently has eight installments. Over a million of her books have been sold worldwide. in 2013 the Aya stories were made into an animated movie, codirected by Abouet herself.

María Medem (1994) was born and lives in Seville, Spain. She began self-publishing fanzines after completing her fine arts studies. Her work has been published by Terry Bleu (Netherlands), Studio Fidèle (France), and Apa Apa Cómics (Spain).

Her illustrations appeared in, amongst others, The New Yorker and The New York Times. She also has made animated videos for bands such as Rival Consoles.

Originally from South America, Maria Victoria Rodriguez has been living in Berlin for five years. She likes drawing very much, she studied art and animation. She works mostly as an illustrator, but also makes comics and fanzines. Her work deals mostly with themes of everyday life that inspire her, human relationships and often with her experience as a migrant woman.

Mark van der Graaff (Rotterdam, 1967) is an illustrator and writer. Under the name m a r k u s, he created cartoons and illustrations for publications including the VPRO Guide, PZC, Psychologie Magazine, and Metro, and published graphic stories in GR’NN, Comix 2000, and the Slibreeks.

He has created three-dimensional drawings and installations in various art centers, including the Kabinetten van de Vleeshal, the Jan van Leeuwen Foundation, and JCA De Kok. Short stories have appeared in DW B and De Gids. In 2018, he published his first novel, Mijn moeder en haar zoon (My Mother and Her Son) at Wereldbibliotheek.

Melek Zertal is a French Algerian illustrator and comic artist, based between Paris and California. She likes to create contemplative, slow reading narratives, all put together by a thorough work of image curation and by washed out pastel colors.

She tries to find a way to convey atmospheres that words cannot express, fleeting moments, and unrequited loves. An unforeseen warming sunshine in the midst of winter, last words of a loved one, four hands forging a cherry pie simultaneously. Stories have no beginning, no end , we’re just thrown in the middle of a story that sounds vaguely familiar. However, through the dreamy haze-like and heartfelt narratives, societal dynamics always find a way to catch up to her characters.

Merel Barends (1980) is a comic artist and illustrator. Her work has been published by several renowned publishing houses like De Bezige Bij, Uitgeverij Atlas/Contact and Uitgeverij Podium. She did commissions for a wide range of clients, such as IDFA, Vrij Nederland Magazine, Mindshakes (NRC Media), OneWorld, Amsterdam Young Academy, CPNB and Greenpeace.

Barends participates regularly in artistic group projects. Her work was exhibited both in the Netherlands and internationally, including in Burundi (1 Femme, 6 Humeurs), Tunisia  (correspondents.org) and the Czech Republic (De Inktpot). At an earlier edition of Cross Comix, she curated the exhibit-in-the-dark ‘Stripped! – A pretty dark room’, where she invited 20 female comic artists to create work inspired by Nietzsche (and his influence). 

Barends is an editor of graphic journalism platform Drawing the Times. As a graphic journalist, she found an international audience and her journalistic comics were published in Dutch, English and Arabic. She’s also part of the Medifoor team, an initiative by medical professionals to visualize complex diagnoses and treatments in a patient-friendly way.

Since 2017, together with writer/producer Jantiene de Kroon, Barends has been working on Oranova, a transmedial world building project. Within this arena, she examines new methods of storytelling, always with her own drawing style as a starting point. She developed motion comics (a mix between comic and animation) and directed an animated VR-experience, Oranova Night Market. The latter had its world premiere at Kaboom Festival, and won the second prize in the New Frontiers Competition at Future Film Fest in Bologna. 

In 2023 Barends developed a theatrical VR-performance with fusion band Zettai, Fight Your Inner Demons, which is still on tour.At the moment, she’s also working as an art director and designer on Lagos, Home For All, an XR-collab with Nigerian animators and comic artists.

Merel Schuurman studied Animation Design at ArtEZ in Zwolle. She has her own studio and gives workshops, including for children.

Moos Boeke is a young artist and writer who has devoted himself entirely to creating stories. In form, he explores the boundaries between poetry, prose, and script, while in theme, he boldly reiterates. He writes about people: about love, friendship, religion, and conflict, until he understands something about himself and others.

Myrthe van de Weetering is always searching for authenticity. She plays violin, but in her own way. She writes songs, but in her own style. And she loves to explore the boundaries between folly and music.

In 2019, Myrthe van de Weetering and her band released their debut record Dégoût, a combination of jazz & film noir photography, marking the beginning of a promising musical journey. Their success led to invitations to perform at renowned music festivals such as So What’s Next, Injazz and North Sea Jazz as well as on the radio and on the television show Vrije Geluiden.

The follow-up record, Ghazal, combines music & poetry with a message. The music is a blend of jazz, pop, and hip-hop, woven together by the distinctive sound of the band. The warm and airy sound of the melody section, with its melancholy violin, the intriguing modular piano that adds an organic layer of electronics to the spectrum, the subtle bright sound of the bass, and the delicate drums.

Nabberduk is a cartoonist with heart and soul, often drawing a lot and sometimes just a little, generating stories and fabrications as well as empty biographies from spins.

From his studio at the Achtergracht art hub in Zwolle, Niek van Ooijen creates comics, illustrations, posters, booklets, and other creative works for various companies, artists, and individuals. He also gives workshops, classes, and courses throughout the country on (comic) drawing and the creative process, and he organizes the Nieuwe Garde Comics Festival in Zwolle.

Nikki Smits graduated from Utrecht School of the Arts in 2011. Since then she is active as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. She works digitally for the most part, which is very handy because she likes travelling around a lot. Right now she mostly creates her own illustrated products and sells them in her webshop and at (comic) conventions. Her current portfolio is full of imaginary worlds and cute characters.

Nova de Hoo is a comic artist who wants to preserve the traditional elements of fun and irony in her comics, whilst also addressing social issues with care and sensitivity. She knows this is quite a difficult cocktail, and she doesn’t think she’ll ever fully get there!

She loves comics with her whole heart. Just like animation they are so incredibly concrete, and there’s no need to discuss a good comic because you don’t have to guess what it’s trying to convey, it’s just right there on the page.

As someone who is incredibly bad with abstraction and subjectivity, she loves the down-to-earth vibe that comics have. Currently she is writing a fictional story based on experiences she’s had in South Africa, hanging out with sex workers in Johannesburg and in doing so learning a bit about their struggles and dreams. In general she is drawn to feminist themes, and loves to write a little about her own experiences as a gay woman.

With a master’s thesis on autobiographical comics, South African Octavia Roodt (born 1995) resided at La Maison des Auteurs in Angoulême in 2021. There, she developed a keen interest in Belgian comics. In 2022, she finally settled in Belgium. Octavia is currently researching graphic medicine, combining the power of poetry, meditation, and drawing.

Olaniyan Odunayo Christiana is an internationally published illustrator from Nigeria. With over three years of experience, she brings stories to life through her captivating illustrations. Currently studying Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Benin, she continues to expand her artistic knowledge.

Her passion for drawing dates back to her childhood, and she particularly enjoys infusing her works with vibrant colours. With a dream of becoming an animator, Olaniyan aspires to see her characters come to life. Her illustrations reflect her unique style and ability to evoke emotions and tell compelling narratives.

Pénélope Bagieu (1982), initially known as a blogger in her native France, achieved international fame with Les Culottées (translated as Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World), a series of drawn portraits of influential women from world history. She won an Eisner Award for it. She also creates animations and has her own lingerie line.

Philipp Ernsting is a Rotterdam-based drummer and percussionist renowned for his dynamic and versatile percussion skills, his involvement in the improvised music underground scene, and his frequent participation in modern dance projects.

Besides collaborations with Gonçalo Almeida, William Parker, Jason Köhnen and others, Ernsting is also 1/3 of the Rotterdam jazzcore band Albatre, soon to release its fourth studio album supported by a European tour.

Remco Polman (1969) studied Philosophy and Political Science at the University of Nijmegen (NL). In 2006 he debuted as a director with the award-winning film Mortel (which was the Dutch entry for the Academy Awards). In 2010 Remco co-directed the animated short Dirkjan Rules with Wilfred Ottenheijm, in 2011 he spent working as a storyboard artist in Beirut (Lebanon) and in 2012 he co-directed Aimee de Jongh’s short Aurora. In 2012, he initiated the comic book series Floris van Dondermonde, for which he won the Dutch comic book award in 2015 and received another nomination in 2023. In 2018, Remco was supervising animator for the Dutch animated feature Heinz.

In 2021 he finished his animated short Camouflage, which is currently touring the festivals. Camouflage was selected for 75+ film festivals world wide and has won 10 awards and 9 nominations so far, including the Nancy Award at Kaboom Animation Festival, Best Animation at Tbilisi International Animation Festival and a Gouden Kalf nomination (Dutch Film Award). Remco is currently developing a feature animation Marbelles Bloom with Jantiene de Kroon for Family Affair Films. Remco is a co-owner of animation studio Mooves.

Sanni Mujeeb Jonathan, known in the art community as “Esemjay,” is a final-year student of the University of Benin, specialising in Fine and Applied Art. His artistic journey began long before entering university, but it was in 2015 that he transitioned into professional artistry.

Throughout his academic pursuit, Jonathan has honed his skills and dedicated his efforts to various roles within several creative studios. Notable collaborations include his work with Love-world Media and Art Department, Raptures Entertainment, VX Corp, and Comic Republic, where he has served as a creative artist, concept artist, art consultant, illustrator and 2D animator. Notably, he held the position of Head 2D Animator at Spoof Animation from 2016 to 2019, leading a team of animators in producing titles like Area Daddy, Roli Tales, Fatima Knows All, and Hero Corp, among others.

Esemjay’s mission extends beyond personal artistic expression; he aims to help people bring concepts, stories and ideas to fruition, inspiring others to find joy in practicing art. His vision goes even further, aspiring to contribute to the growth of the Nigerian art community, fostering its development into a global industry. Through his multifaceted roles and passion for creativity, Esemjay continues to make impactful strides in the world of art.

Sioe Jeng Tsao (she/they), also known as SEEYOUSIOE, is a queer multidisciplinary artist with roots in the Netherlands, China, and West Papua. Based in Rotterdam, she creates vibrant work that blends digital illustration and painting to explore identity, migration, queer joy, and social justice.

Her art invites connection and reflection — bold in color, soft in intention. In 2025, she published her illustrated memoir Mijn Tijd in de Zon and opened her first solo exhibition De Liefde die Blijft at CODA Museum.

Through decolonial storytelling, workshops, and community projects, Sioe Jeng uses art as both a protest and a healing force

Having been painting on the street since 2006, graffiti and visual artist Sicovecas captures this very public art experience in his style. Sicovecas’ work is primarily about “interaction”. His name, a play on “As I See (Sic)”, reflects how he as artist interacts with the environment around him – be it the social or the physical. Sicovecas chooses his spots carefully for the feel of the location, the shifts in light, the quirks and the activities of the people around it, and his art responds to this.

His work is not only public in the location being a public space, but it is a social act – in painting on someone’s wall, or in someone’s neighborhood, Sic’s pieces involve trust and building relationships with those he encounters.

Somto Ajuluchukwu (Lagos, 1991) is an award winning, emerging Animation Film Director, Producer & Executive. Also founder of Vortex Corp a creative content company keen on exporting African culture. He began his professional career as a filmmaker in 2014 after founding Vortex Studios an animation and comic book company where he Directed his first short animated film in 2016 called Town Crier, and has since then produced & Directed Orange City (2019) which traveled across 26 countries in 4 continents and most recently GLYCH (2022) which served as opening film at the RENDACON ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL (2022) Lagos, Nigeria.

Somto has directed and produced multiple animated music videos for Afrobeat stars such (REMA, WIZKID) and International acts (BRENT FAIYAZ and WALSHY FIRE – Major Lazer). In 2017 his comic-book character published by Vortex Comics Strike Guard was listed 15 most influential black superheroes in the world by CBR (Comic Book Resources) and later produced as a 6 minute animated short film featured on VICE & Design Indaba in 2017.

In late 2017 he launched C3 Africa (Creative Content Conference) Nigerias first content market serving as a meeting point for international companies discovering and buying Nigerian content, this expanded to the Accra for its second edition in August 2018, and has become a blueprint of B2B events connecting the local entertainment industry to international stakeholders. In October 2018, African International Film Festival Appointed him Coordinator Animation programmes where he served for 1 year. In 2021 Somto won his first animation film award at the NAICCON Film Festival. Nairobi, Kenya (Best Animation, 2021) and his 2nd award at the Afrocomic Con Film Festival. Los Angeles, USA (Best Animation, 2022). Somto Ajuluchukwu is based in Lagos, Nairobi & Accra.

Marit, the artist behind Studio Machii, is an illustrator, zine maker and product designer based in Amsterdam. She likes to experiment with her work, both in art style, medium and storytelling. This results in whimsical figures in surreal worlds and on the other hand in highly detailed, ink-drawn comics.

Tânia A. Cardoso, illustrator and urbanist, has completed her doctoral research at the University of Amsterdam. Her research, a product of this distinct blend of fields, focuses on the potential of illustration as a form of urban communication. This work is the culmination of her ground-based experience as an illustrator-researcher, exploring the poetics of everyday life and reportage art, and using illustration to co-produce and challenge the urban environment. The results of her research led her to open StudioTako, a studio for creating visual storytelling, urban chronicles, collective mapping and comics, and independent study.

Artists Bruno Ferro, Xavier da Silva, and Gwen Stok have been collaborating under the name Trompette de la Mort since 2014. Their art has a macabre yet playful quality, as if you were the guest of honor among cannibals, trying to remember proper table manners. They specialize in ink drawings (both small and large) as well as paintings.

Gwen Stok

Gwen Stok is an independent illustrator, comic artist, and visual artist (image maker). Among other works, she created the graphic novel The Healing of the Cricket, based on a story by Toon Tellegen. In 2021, she served as the city illustrator of Rotterdam, a role that concluded with an exhibition at the Kunsthal.

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Gwen Stok

Gwen Stok is an independent illustrator, comic artist, and visual artist (image maker). Among other works, she created the graphic novel The Healing of the Cricket, based on a story by Toon Tellegen. In 2021, she served as the city illustrator of Rotterdam, a role that concluded with an exhibition at the Kunsthal.

Cross Comix Festival 2022

Talkshow Indocomics

Cross Comix Festival 2024

Residentie Rotterdam Centraal

Bruno Ferro Xavier da Silva

Bruno Ferro Xavier da Silva (1977) was born in Lissabon, from a Capeverdian mother and an Angolese father, and grew up in Rotterdam. He is a bass player, composer and visual artist.

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Maker

Bruno Ferro Xavier da Silva

Bruno Ferro Xavier da Silva (1977) was born in Lissabon, from a Capeverdian mother and an Angolese father, and grew up in Rotterdam. He is a bass player, composer and visual artist.

Cross Comix Festival 2023

Residentie Rotterdam Centraal

Cross Comix Festival 2024

Residentie Rotterdam Centraal

The international breakthrough of Ulli Lust (1967) came with her autobiographical graphic novel Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life, which was originally published in German in 2009 and went on to be published, to great acclaim, in a dozen other languages. Her newest book, still untranslated, is Die Frau als Mensch (Woman as a human being).

In her The Hague studio Vera van Wolferen handcrafts animations, illustrations and paper art pieces, such as the trophy that belongs to the Small Press Award. She gives workshops, artist talks and guest lectures. She has worked with brands like Facebook, Heineken, Jo Malone, Bosch, Xenos & Ortec.

Her animation Down in the Dumps, about a ladybug that has her wing covers stolen, premiered at the Berlinale Film Festival in february 2025 and received a special mention in the shorts category.

Vera Wolsink is an illustrator who is convinced that we will never stop growing up. She often explores and highlights personal dynamics and their vulnerability, always looking for human connection. More than telling a specific story, she strives to leave the viewer with a specific feeling, recognition or questioning their ideas.

She likes to make zines, and is slowly becoming more and more influenced by comics and the comic artists around her. You might even find a panel here and there.

“I’m interested in a direct way of working, often impulsive, associative and fast. This playful way of working often leaves me with small puzzles to solve; a need to react to the playgrounds of work I’ve created and adding or drawing from them to create a narrative.”

“There are many made-up rules in this world, I intend to move away from them as a whole. As an artist, a friend, as someone you see skipping down the sidewalk. I hope that can be felt in my work.”

Victor van Doorn is a comic book researcher and film programmer active in Den Haag and Leiden. Whose research aims to analyze how medium-specific elements influence the visibility of identity in comics.

Victoria Lomasko is a Russian graphic artist whose work focuses on graphic reportage through the means of murals and graphic art in literature. She currently resides in exile in Brussels.

Earlier in 2025 she published The Last Soviet Artist, which chronicles her trips to several former Soviet republics, the Belarussian revolution and, finally, her life as an exile.

Wobby.club, led by artistic director Marjolein Schalk, has provided a platform for autonomous illustration and visual art since 2015. It issues Wobby, a quarterly, thematic magazine, risograph printed at Wobby’s studio in Tilburg (NL).

Wobby showcases quirky illustration, comics, visual art and literature, focusing on fresh figurative, experimental, and humorous work from upcoming and established international artists. At the end of 2024, Wobby’s 40th issue was released, co-curated with Enter Press (IT).

Besides publishing Wobby magazine, Wobby.club organises residencies, exhibitions, a diy publishing fair, workshops, open calls, and many more projects.

Illustrator Wouter Gresnigt (born 1974) of Werkplaats W graduated from the art academy in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 1999. Since then, his work is to be found in newspapers, magazines, on shop windows, and on chalkboards. He has also illustrated and designed several children’s books. In addition to all these activities, Gresnigt also self-publishes graphic novels.

Zeina Abirached (born 1981) is a Lebanese illustrator, graphic novelist and comic artist. Her graphic novel A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return, about growing up in war torn Beirut, established her name internationally.

Zie Groenen is a colourful person and comic artist. She enjoys creating dramatic and psychedelic stories who often tend to resemble her own life. Besides all the drawing she teaches art in high school and gives creative workshops at festivals.

Her story ‘Tussenjaar’ is a drama about a teenage boy who struggles with his future and his ADHD diagnosis. He escapes these struggles by consuming psychedelics with a new formed friendship group. Zie makes her drawings with pencil and changes the colors digitally.