Bianca Xunise: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:51, 5 January 2025

Bianca Xunise is an American cartoonist, illustrator, and self-described "goth of color" known for her work on the nationally syndicated Six Chix comic strip collaborative. She is recognized for exploring themes of race, identity, mental health, and everyday life through her unique artistic lens.

Early Life and Background

Bianca Xunise was born in Chicago, Illinois, to artistic parents. Her mother was a fashion designer, which influenced Xunise's creative upbringing. She has Creole roots and draws inspiration from her cultural heritage. Originally starting as a fashion blogger, Xunise shifted her focus from fashion to social issues following the 2013 Trayvon Martin case verdict. Reflecting on the impact of the case, she stated, "After that, I realized I didn't care what I'm wearing anymore."

Influences and Artistic Style

Xunise's artistic influences are diverse, spanning both Western and Eastern creators. She cites Finnish artist Tove Jansson, known for The Moomins; Austrian children's book illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans, creator of Madeline; and Japanese manga artist Naoko Takeuchi, known for Sailor Moon, as inspirations for her work. Her art combines whimsical and emotional elements, often tackling serious subjects through visually engaging illustrations.

Career

Xunise's career began in earnest when she was given a column in 2015 by Hello Giggles, an online platform for women, which provided her a professional entry into comics and illustration. Her work later appeared in publications such as The Nib and Shondaland, where she addressed social justice, personal identity, and the experiences of being Black in America.

Her breakthrough came when King Features Syndicate invited her to create a tribute strip for Popeye. In 2018, she self-published Say Her Name, a comic exploring the anxieties of being Black in America, which won her the Ignatz Award for "Promising New Talent".

Six Chix

In 2020, Xunise joined the Six Chix comic strip collaborative, becoming the second Black woman to contribute to a nationally syndicated strip, following Barbara Brandon-Croft, who created Where I'm Coming From (1991–2005). Xunise also became the first Black nonbinary cartoonist to be nationally syndicated, marking a significant milestone in the world of comic art representation.

Themes and Contributions

Xunise's work often addresses:

Race and Identity: Exploring personal and collective experiences of Black individuals in America.
Mental Health: Raising awareness about anxiety and emotional struggles through personal storytelling.
Pop Culture and Feminism: Merging contemporary social commentary with artistic creativity.

Her comics blend humor and activism, aiming to spark conversations while providing relatable content.

Awards and Recognition

Ignatz Award for "Promising New Talent" (2018) for Say Her Name.

Legacy and Impact

Bianca Xunise has made significant contributions to the world of editorial and syndicated comics, breaking barriers as a Black nonbinary cartoonist. Her work continues to inspire conversations about social justice, diversity, and the power of visual storytelling in modern media.

External links

Official website
"Say Her Name" - on Southsideweekly.com

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|American artist}}
+[[File:Bianca Xunise.png|alt=Bianca Xunise |thumb|Bianca Xunise]]
-{{Infobox person
+'''Bianca Xunise''' is an American [[cartoonist]], [[illustrator]], and self-described "goth of color" known for her work on the nationally syndicated ''Six Chix'' [[comic strip]] collaborative. She is recognized for exploring themes of race, identity, mental health, and everyday life through her unique artistic lens.
-| birth_place   = [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.<ref name="nittleVox" />
-| occupation    = [[Cartoonist]], illustrator, adjunct professor at [[DePaul University]]<ref name="arrantNewsarama">{{cite web |last1=Arrant |first1=Chris |title=BIANCA XUNISE Teaching 'Making Comics' Course at Chicago's DePAUL UNIVERSITY |url=https://www.newsarama.com/48437-bianca-xunise-teaching-making-comics-course-at-chicago-s-depaul-university.html |website=Newsarama |access-date=17 May 2020 |date=2 Jan 2020}}</ref>
-| education     = [[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]] in [[Graphic Design]] from the [[University of Illinois at Chicago]]<ref name="arrantNewsarama" />
-| notable_works = ''[[Six Chix]]''
-| awards        = 2018 [[Ignatz Award]] for "Promising New Talent"<ref name="arrantNewsarama" />
-| website       = {{URL|BiancaXunise.com}}
-}}
-'''Bianca Xunise''' is an American cartoonist, illustrator, and self-described "[[Goth subculture|goth]] of color". Her work is [[Comic strip syndication|nationally syndicated]] through the ''[[Six Chix]]'' comic strip collaborative.<ref name="nittleVox">{{cite web |last1=Nittle |first1=Nadra |title=Meet the Black Girls of Goth |url=https://www.vox.com/2017/10/23/16492192/black-goth-girls |publisher=Vox |access-date=17 May 2020 |date=23 Oct 2017}}</ref>
-== Early life ==
+== Early Life and Background ==
-Xunise was born in Chicago to artistic parents; her mother was a [[fashion design]]er.<ref name="nittleVox" /><ref name="nylonGore" /> Her family has [[Creole peoples|Creole]] roots.<ref name="nylonGore">{{cite web |last1=Gore |first1=Sydney |title=BIANCA XUNISE MAKES '60S-INSPIRED COMICS FOR MODERN TIMES |url=https://www.nylon.com/articles/bianca-xunise-interview |website=Biana Xunise makes '60s-inspired comics for modern times |date=16 November 2016 |publisher=Nylon Magazine}}</ref> She started as a [[fashion blog]]ger, but quit "because they didn't want to indict [[George Zimmerman]] in the [[Trayvon Martin]] case and after that I realized I [didn't] care what I'm wearing anymore."<ref name="haparimwiHooligan">{{cite web |last1=Haparimwi |first1=Charlene |title=Finding a New Voice: Bianca Xunise |url=http://www.hooliganmagazine.com/blog/2016/12/8/finding-a-new-voice-bianca-xunise |publisher=Hooligan Mag |access-date=18 May 2020 |date=8 Dec 2016 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014132833/http://www.hooliganmagazine.com/blog/2016/12/8/finding-a-new-voice-bianca-xunise |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+Bianca Xunise was born in Chicago, Illinois, to artistic parents. Her mother was a fashion designer, which influenced Xunise's creative upbringing. She has Creole roots and draws inspiration from her cultural heritage. Originally starting as a fashion blogger, Xunise shifted her focus from fashion to social issues following the 2013 Trayvon Martin case verdict. Reflecting on the impact of the case, she stated, "After that, I realized I didn't care what I'm wearing anymore."
+== Influences and Artistic Style ==
+Xunise's artistic influences are diverse, spanning both Western and Eastern creators. She cites Finnish artist [[Tove Jansson]], known for ''[[The Moomins]]''; Austrian children's book [[illustrator]] [[Ludwig Bemelmans]], creator of ''[[Madeline]]''; and Japanese manga artist [[Naoko Takeuchi]], known for ''[[Sailor Moon]]'', as inspirations for her work. Her art combines whimsical and emotional elements, often tackling serious subjects through visually engaging illustrations.
 == Career ==
-Xunise's influences include Finnish artist [[Tove Jansson]], Austrian children's book illustrator [[Ludwig Bemelmans]], and Japanese manga artist [[Naoko Takeuchi]].<ref name="nylonGore" /> She credits her professional start in comics to online community for women [[Hello Giggles]], which gave her a column in 2015.<ref name="rockettTribune">{{cite news |last1=Rockett |first1=Darcell |title=Lincoln Square's Bianca Xunise becomes first black cartoonist for 'Six Chix' comic strip; Southland native to visit C2E2 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-c2e2-bianca-xunise-20200225-20200224-76swfsistzd3jjvwd4ysghujj4-story.html |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=24 Feb 2020}}</ref> Xunise had been featured in [[the Nib]] and [[Shondaland]] when [[King Features Syndicate]] asked her to create a [[Popeye]] tribute strip.<ref name="cavnaWapo" /> In 2018 she won the [[Ignatz Award]] for "Promising New Talent" for her self-published "Say Her Name", which deals with the anxiety of being black in America.<ref name="cavnaWapoIgnatz">{{cite news |last1=Cavna |first1=Michael |title=SPX Ignatz Award nominees: Books tackling bigotry top 'the Spirit Awards of comics' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/08/17/spx-ignatz-award-nominees-books-tackling-bigotry-top-the-spirit-awards-of-comics/ |access-date=18 May 2020 |work=17 Aug 2017 |publisher=Washington Post}}</ref>
+Xunise's career began in earnest when she was given a column in 2015 by ''Hello Giggles'', an online platform for women, which provided her a professional entry into comics and illustration. Her work later appeared in publications such as ''[[The Nib]]'' and ''Shondaland'', where she addressed social justice, personal identity, and the experiences of being Black in America.
+Her breakthrough came when King Features Syndicate invited her to create a tribute strip for ''Popeye''. In 2018, she self-published ''Say Her Name'', a comic exploring the anxieties of being Black in America, which won her the Ignatz Award for "Promising New Talent".
+=== ''Six Chix'' ===
+In 2020, Xunise joined the ''Six Chix'' comic strip collaborative, becoming the second Black woman to contribute to a nationally syndicated strip, following Barbara Brandon-Croft, who created ''Where I'm Coming From'' (1991–2005). Xunise also became the first Black nonbinary cartoonist to be nationally syndicated, marking a significant milestone in the world of comic art representation.
+== Themes and Contributions ==
+Xunise's work often addresses:
+* '''Race and Identity:''' Exploring personal and collective experiences of Black individuals in America.
+* '''Mental Health:''' Raising awareness about anxiety and emotional struggles through personal storytelling.
+* '''Pop Culture and Feminism:''' Merging contemporary social commentary with artistic creativity.
+Her comics blend humor and activism, aiming to spark conversations while providing relatable content.
+== Awards and Recognition ==
-In 2020, she became the second Black woman contributing to a nationally syndicated strip, when she became one of the ''[[Six Chix]]''.<ref name="rockettTribune" /><ref name="cavnaWapo">{{cite news |last1=Michael |first1=Cavna |title=Newspaper comics hardly ever feature black women as artists. But two new voices have arrived. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/04/20/steenz-heart-city-bianca-xunise-six-chix/ |access-date=18 May 2020 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=20 Apr 2020}}</ref> She was preceded in this distinction by [[Barbara Brandon-Croft]], whose daily strip ''Where I'm Coming From'' was nationally syndicated from 1991 to 2005. With her ''[[Six Chix]]'' debut, Xunise also became the first Black nonbinary cartoonist to be nationally syndicated.
+* '''Ignatz Award''' for "Promising New Talent" (2018) for ''Say Her Name''.
-==References==
+== Legacy and Impact ==
-{{Reflist|30em}}
+Bianca Xunise has made significant contributions to the world of editorial and syndicated comics, breaking barriers as a Black nonbinary cartoonist. Her work continues to inspire conversations about social justice, diversity, and the power of visual storytelling in modern media.
 == External links ==
@@ Line 25: / Line 36: @@
 * [https://www.biancaxunise.com/ Official website]
 * [https://southsideweekly.com/say-her-name/ "Say Her Name"] - on Southsideweekly.com
-{{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Xunise, Bianca}}