MICA's Illustration faculty are professionals who bring the experience of their award-winning careers to the classroom. We are involved in all major illustration and comics conferences and festivals. Our work is regularly published and exhibited in national and international venues.
Additionally, noted guest speakers discuss their work and critique student work. The department maintains the Julian Allen Illustration Gallery, which displays exhibitions to showcase work by the department's students, illustration alumni, and guest illustrators. And last but not least, the illustration office provides a friendly and relaxing place for students to meet faculty, get advisement, and become an integral part of the department.
Shadra Strickland studied, design, writing, and illustration at Syracuse University and later went on to complete her M.F.A. at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Shadra travels the country conducting workshops and sharing her work with children, teachers, and librarians.
Allan Comport has been working as an artist's representative and educator for the past 30 years.
Alain Corbel was born in Brittany, France, in 1965. He looks on his work as an illustrator as a deep personal trip and approaches each book with a special graphic language. Flexibility and freedom in style and technique are very important for him.
Eduardo Corral, a.k.a. TLaloC, is a full-time faculty member in First Year Experience. Born in the industrial city of Monterrey, Mexico, he is an illustrator, interdisciplinary artist and graphic designer.
Joyce Hesselberth's illustrations have appeared in national ad campaigns, theater productions, and numerous major newspapers and magazines.
Aya Kakeda was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Now she draws and creates imaginative world in Brooklyn, NY. She has produced art for books, products, magazines, posters, and store installations from clients all over the world.
Lisa Perrin is an award-winning illustrator, designer, collaborator, entrepreneur, educator, and general mover & shaker. Her work has been recognized by The Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, 3X3 Magazine, and Print Magazine. A proud graduate of the MFA Illustration Practice program, Perrin also holds a BFA in Drawing and Painting and a BA in English from SUNY New Paltz.
Deanna Staffo is a Philadelphia based illustrator. She received her BFA with honors from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, where she later taught sophomore and junior illustration students.
Harvey Award winning artist José Villarrubia is internationally known for his comics color work and editing. He has also been nominated for the Eisner Award twice and regularly works for all the major American comic publishers (Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse Publishing, Image Comics) as a colorist and digital painter.
Born on Long Island NY, Heidi began her illustration career in 1988 after receiving a BFA in Graphic Design from School of Visual Arts in NYC.
Mai Ly Degnan is an award winning freelance illustrator and educator based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Ashanti Fortson is an award-nominated comics creator, illustrator, editor, and educator.
My name's Jimmy Giegerich and I'm an Illustrator currently working and living in Baltimore, Maryland.
With an MA in textiles from Central St. Martins in London after a BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Kim currently teaches on the Illustration Practice MFA at Maryland Institute College of Art/MICA in Baltimore after stints at Parsons and FIT.
This fall Danamarie Hosler will be teaching Illustration I (IL 200.06)
Dave Inscore is a 22 year game industry veteran who began his career as an art intern at Microprose Software in 1995.
Sam Lacombe studied painting with David Aronson and Robert D'Arista at Boston University, where he received a BFA degree in painting in 1988, and an MFA in painting in 1990.
Normandie enjoys bright, colorful and decorative illustration as well as narrative illustration that tell rich and interesting stories.
Sebastian Martorana is a sculptor and illustrator living and working in Baltimore, MD.
Laila Milevski grew up between New Jersey and Latvia, where she studied art in the academic style.
Patrick O'Brien has been an illustrator and painter since 1985, working with such clients as National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, The Smithsonian, and the U.S. Naval Institute.
Matt Rota is a New York-based illustrator and fine artist specializing in narrative technique with watercolor and ink media.
Jesse grew up in Lititz, Pa, a small town in Lancaster County.
Hayley Powers Thornton-Kennedy is an East Coast based, West Coast born maker with a MFA in Illustration Practice from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Her drive to create is fueled by a passion for narrative and creative problem solving. When she’s not working, you'll most likely find me either in the woods soaking up nature, or in a coffee shop soaking up caffeine and pastries.
Luca Vitale has been working in the animation/film industry for over a decade as an art director, designer and animator.