Rice University’s interdisciplinary conference “Comics Sans Frontières: Border Defiance in Graphic Narratives” will bring together international scholars and artists March 20-23 to explore comics as a medium that challenges artistic, national and cultural boundaries. The four-day event will feature panels, exhibitions and workshops — all free and open to the public.
The March 20 keynote event at Rice’s Moody Center for the Arts will feature Art Spiegelman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of “Maus,” “In the Shadow of No Towers” and “Breakdowns.” A defining figure in contemporary comics, Spiegelman has played a crucial role in elevating the graphic novel as a serious literary and artistic form.
Spiegelman will be awarded Rice’s inaugural Comic Art Teaching and Study Workshop (CATS) Comics Pioneer Award, known as the “Yoink!”, a custom-designed signet ring set on a Waterford crystal base. While he will not be conducting a public signing, raffles for autographed copies of “Maus” will take place throughout the conference.
“Art Spiegelman’s contributions to the field of comics cannot be overstated,” said Christopher Sperandio, associate professor of art at Rice and conference organizer. “His work not only reshaped how comics are perceived but also opened new avenues for storytelling, historical reflection and artistic expression.”
Register to attend the keynote event here.
Other conference highlights include:
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March 21: A talk by Robert Pruitt, a Houston-born artist whose work is deeply influenced by comics, at 6 p.m. at the Moody Center.
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March 22: A curated exhibition featuring selections from Rice’s CATS, including rare comic strip art from “Dick Tracy,” “Blondie” and “Family Circus,” as well as an open house at the Woodson Research Center.
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March 23: Risograph and letterpress workshops at Sewall Hall’s Print Shop, offering hands-on experiences in printmaking.
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March 24: “Weird Science,” a special session designed for Rice engineering and science students, featuring comic artists offering insights on visual communication.
“This conference underscores the growing relevance of comics as a lens for understanding contemporary society, politics and culture,” Sperandio said. “It is an opportunity for students, scholars and the public to engage with a medium that is as complex as it is accessible.”
A limited-edition graphic anthology produced by the award-winning Latvian publisher kuš! komikss will be available for free to attendees, while supplies last.
For more information and to register, click here. Media planning to attend the conference should RSVP with media specialist Brandi Smith at brandi.smith@rice.edu or 713-348-6769.