Members Only Speed Round Portfolio Pitch Mixer

The Society of Illustrators is proud to present another one of our… Speed Round Portfolio Pitch Mixers!

An event, free and exclusive to our Illustrators – S Members, (early career illustrators, 36 years or younger), will function similarly to that of a “speed dating” event.

This mixer will focus primarily on Comic Book Illustration focused works and career paths.

We will have 8 professional Comics focused Artists & Editors in total, each seated at their own table, and we welcome 16 of our members who have signed up for the event. Each artist will come in and give their 5 minute pitch, showcasing their recent work and ambitions for their future in their career. Once the five minutes is up with their first review, they move to the next.

The event will take place within our third floor Garden Gallery where there will be 80 minutes of this repeated “speed dating” review/pitch process, and then 30 minutes of mingling. Cash bar provided.

We hope this event will inspire and provide guidance to young upcoming cartoonists and illustrators breaking out into the field, and will hopefully make an impact and guide them to their goals and aspirations!

We encourage artists to bring business cards, mailers (5×9 print card), zines or other physical networking materials.

Please note this is meant to be structured like speed dating rounds & elevator pitches, bringing an entire portfolio of work will not be necessary.

Illustration by Melissa Kleynowski

Heysu Lee — “I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. And I would be proud to say I’m fresh off the boat—although I’m not as fresh as I used to be anymore! I lived in Seoul until my mid-twenties, and went to study abroad in the UK, where my journey began. I graduated from the University of Arts London with a BA in Illustration, then moved to New York City where I earned an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. I’ve been based in Brooklyn and going about my life as an illustrator, artist, muralist, comic artist and educator. My art has always been driven by a curiosity about how people connect. I was very shy growing up, so I never knew how best to communicate with those around me. But drawing people—observing them, and learning about them—that’s my way of connecting. Art, after all, has no language barrier. I’ve been collaborating with various clients across many platforms all over the world – creating illustrations for brands, magazines, public murals, and packaging. My belief is that anything warm and cheerful is contagious.”

Andrew Alexander — Andrew Alexander is the editor/founder of CRAM books, a Brooklyn based comic publisher making funny, sad, honest books. CRAM Comics, the flagship anthology, has been nominated for two Ignatz Awards.

Image Credit: Joe Ro

Deb JJ Lee — Deb JJ Lee (they/them) is a trans non-binary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. They have appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, NPR, Google, Radiolab, and more. They are known for their award-winning graphic memoir, In Limbo, about mental illness and difficult relationships with trauma.

Image Credit: Amir Hamja for the New York Times

Jeff Whitman — Jeff is a publishing professional with experience in editing, writing, production and acquisitions.  Currently, Jeff is the Comics Editor of Global Publishing for Nickelodeon (Paramount), overseeing and editing licensed projects for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Garfield and other iconic Nickelodeon properties across a variety of formats. With leading children’s graphic novel publisher, Papercutz, he edited Eisner-nominated Trish Trash, by Jessica Abel, Harvey and Ringo-nominated The Only Living Boy, and served as editor for many comics translations of popular international properties including Asterix, The Smurfs, Monica and Friends, and Geronimo Stilton. He has also translated more than ten graphic novels into English.

Ed Murr — An Illustrator for over twenty years, Ed Murr has been creating art for a wide range of clients. Starting off at the Marvel Comics Bullpen in the nineties, working alongside legendary cartoonists and moving over to the Topps Company, Ed immersed himself in the study of storytelling and illustration the entire time. Other applications of his craft have included work as a Storyboard Artist for various advertising, film and television productions for live action and animation. As a licensing artist, worked on paint masters for toys, illustrated calendars and worked on style guides. Currently he continues his career as a Freelance Illustrator while teaching Illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Montclair State University and Pratt Institute. His personal work explores the topic of dreams and nightmares and the imagery between those and popular culture.

Bob Bianchini — Bob Bianchini is the Assistant Art Director for Random House Graphic and has been a Designer at Random House Children’s Books for nine years. Bob’s professional career started in NYC after graduating the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration. He learned the ropes as a freelance illustrator while working for Illustrator, Peter Kuper, and moved on to various fulltime positions in the creative industry, including Senior Online Producer for the Associated Press; Graphic Designer for American Eagle Outfitters; an adjunct professor of Digital Illustration at CCNY; and the author and illustrator of two children’s books published by Abrams Books.

Danny Fingeroth — Danny is a cultural historian and commentator. His books include Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society and Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero. His 2019 biography of Stan Lee, A Marvelous Life, tackles the many controversies surrounding the Marvel co-creator. Fingeroth’s most recent book, 2023’s Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald’s Assassin, chronicles the history-shattering Ruby’s bizarre life. Danny spent eighteen years as a writer and Group Editor at Marvel and has lectured and taught at institutions including the Smithsonian and Columbia University. He created and edited Write Now magazine for TwoMorrows, has consulted on comics exhibitions, and is Chair of Will Eisner Week, an annual series of worldwide events celebrating the legacy of the comics innovator.

Maritsa Patrinos — Maritsa is a Brooklyn-based illustrator, designer, creative strategist, and educator. Originally from Washington D.C., she graduated from Pratt Institute in 2010. Maritsa is a syndicated cartoonist with King Features, a unit of Hearst, where she has worked for over six years. Since May 2024, she has been the creator of the original online weekly strip Working Cats. In addition to her ongoing work on Working Cats, Maritsa continues her role as the Friday and rotating Sunday cartoonist for the popular strip Six Chix. Her contributions to these renowned comics highlight her versatility and ongoing impact in the world of syndicated cartooning. Currently, Maritsa is also a Adjunct Professor at Parsons School of Design – The New School, where she teaches aspiring artists and designers. At BuzzFeed, Maritsa produced comics and animations for various platforms, creating illustrations and assets for the editorial team. She also managed the BuzzFeed Comics Instagram and Facebook accounts, driving engagement and content strategy, while overseeing a team of freelance comic creators. With a strong foundation in both creative and strategic roles, Maritsa brings a wealth of experience and a passion for mentorship to her work in design, illustration, and education.