"The Breeze"

With the sweltering weather this summer, we could all use a cool breeze. Years ago, I made a short film while visiting friends on Fire Island, attempting to capture the “moving still lives” I saw. If you find yourself in the Miami / Fort Lauderdale area before September 28th, you can see “The Breeze” in an exhibition at the South Campus Art Gallery at Broward College called “The Elastic Mind.” Thank you, Kohl King and the gallery for including my work!

Coming soon: YOU MAKE ME SNEEZE!

ACHOOooo!!! I’m excited to share the cover of my latest collaboration with the wonderful Sharon G. Flake, You Make Me Sneeze! featuring Cat and Duck, the same hilarious duo from You Are Not a Cat! So the cat’s out of the bag…or is it? For answers to this question and more, you’ll have to pre-order a copy for yourself or that comedy-loving, picture book reader in your life. You Make Me Sneeze! will be out February 20, 2024—just in time for allergy season. But if you’re like me, every season is allergy season, so no time like the present! Get it?…present!🎁

Announcing: Party Animals!*

I’m thrilled to be illustrating two new picture books by the wonderful, Tara Lazar beginning with Party Animals, due out in Spring 2025 from Disney-Hyperion. I’ve been a fan of Tara and her books for a long time, so this is an honor. Not to mention I come from a long line of party animals, so the subject matter suits me perfectly!

[*Full disclosure: this announcement is a little late to this space. I’ve been busy drawing parties!]

The Book Show at the School of Visual Arts

Illustration by Tae Kim, MFAI ‘23 | @jjangga_tjk

A scholarship has been established in honor of MFA Illustration as Visual Essay founder and longtime chair, Marshall Arisman, to provide financial support to future MFAI students. To make a donation, visit the Visual Arts Foundation website and include “Marshall Arisman Scholarship Fund” in the comment field.

This year marks my 5th teaching in the MFA Illustration program at the School of Visual Arts, and my 4th year curating “The Book Show,” an exhibition of work by our students. But it is also a first, as we forge on without the calm, steady guidance of our program’s founder, Marshall Arisman. A few weeks ago, as I helped the Class of 2023 install their work—the last group he taught—I tried my best to channel him. As I advised each student, I found myself repeating the same words I’d heard Marshall say so many times at big moments like this (and on occasion to me): “You should be proud of yourself.” And now I have to say it—I am proud. Proud of myself, but mostly proud that this group of kind, talented, thoughtful artists pulled through, presenting an enormous, impressive body of work. Their dedication is reflected on the walls and in the pages of each book.

The signage for the exhibition says, “Curated by Anna Raff”, but my teaching partner, Marshall had as much to do with the quality of the students’ work as I did. I was overruled when I asked to have his name added before mine as curator, as was our usual way. But I’m very happy that the next line reads, “Dedicated to Marshall Arisman.” I think Marshall would be proud too.

“The Book Show” is free to the public and open to through January 14, 2023. If you would like to attend, visit the MFAI Eventbrite site for times and vaccine requirements. To learn more, here’s a link to the SVA website.

Helen Ji, Mural of Akabalon, MFAI ‘23 | @helenjeeeee

Katy Freeman, The Reunion, MFAI ‘23 | @katyfree

Junjun Che, Moonlit Night, MFAI ‘23 | @junjundraws

Weston Wei, Ignite, MFAI ‘23 | @westonweiart

Xinyue Chen, The Big Girl, MFAI ‘23 | @maiyashu