Aisha Franz: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:22, 26 March 2025

Aisha Franz (born 1984) is a German illustrator and comic book artist known for her internationally published graphic novels and zines. Based in Berlin, she has gained recognition for her storytelling, which blends everyday life with existential themes, often highlighting the absurdities of human reality.

Early Life and Education

Franz was born in Fürth, Germany, to Colombian-Chilean immigrant parents. Initially, she aspired to become a figure skater and work as an animator for Walt Disney. However, she later pursued a career in illustration, studying at the School of Art and Design in Kassel.

She is now based in Berlin, where she is an active member of The Treasure Fleet, a German comic publishing collective. In addition to her artistic work, Franz has also taught illustration and comics at Kunsthochschule Kassel alongside Hendrik Dorgathen.

Career

Graphic Novels and Comics

Franz's debut graphic novel, Alien (2011), received international recognition and was published in multiple languages:

French: Petite Terrienne (Éditions çà et là)
English: Earthling (Drawn & Quarterly)

Her work has been widely published in Germany by Reprodukt and other publishers and has appeared in various comic anthologies.

In 2013, Alien won an award for Best Foreign Work at the Lucerne International Comics Festival.

Her storytelling often merges mundane daily life with deeper existential reflections, a hallmark of her artistic style.

Published Works

Alien (2011) (Earthling in English, Petite Terrienne in French)
Brigitte und der Perlenhort (2013) (Brigitte et la perle cachée in French)
Shit is Real (2016)
Work-Life-Balance (Reprodukt, 2022)

Themes and Style

Franz’s work is recognized for its minimalist yet expressive art style, which complements her explorations of identity, routine, and the surreal aspects of daily life. She frequently tackles themes of urban alienation, interpersonal relationships, and self-discovery, using a darkly humorous and introspective approach.

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-{{Short description|German illustrator and comic book artist}}
+'''Aisha Franz''' (born 1984) is a German [[illustrator]] and [[comic book artist]] known for her internationally published '''[[graphic novels]] and [[zines]]'''. Based in '''Berlin''', she has gained recognition for her storytelling, which blends '''everyday life with existential themes''', often highlighting the '''absurdities of human reality'''.
-{{Infobox artist
-|name = Aisha Franz
-|image = AishaFranz.jpg
-|birth_date = 1984
-|birth_place = Fürth, Germany
-|nationality = German
-|known_for = comic books}}
-'''Aisha Franz''' (born 1984) is a German [[illustrator]] and [[comic book]] artist based in Berlin. She is known for her internationally published [[graphic novel]]s and [[zine]]s.
+== Early Life and Education ==
+Franz was born in '''Fürth, Germany''', to '''Colombian-Chilean''' immigrant parents. Initially, she aspired to become a '''figure skater''' and work as an animator for '''Walt Disney'''. However, she later pursued a career in illustration, studying at the '''School of Art and Design in Kassel'''.
-== Life and career ==
+She is now based in '''Berlin''', where she is an active member of '''The Treasure Fleet''', a German comic publishing collective. In addition to her artistic work, Franz has also taught '''illustration and comics''' at '''Kunsthochschule Kassel''' alongside '''Hendrik Dorgathen'''.
-The daughter of [[Colombians|Colombian]]-[[Chileans|Chilean]] immigrants, she was born in [[Fürth]], Germany. Franz originally wanted to be a figure skater and create animated drawings for Walt Disney. She went on to study illustration at the School of Art and Design in [[Kassel]]. She lives and works in [[Berlin]]. Franz is part of the German comic publishing collective The Treasure Fleet.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/franz_aisha.htm |title=Aisha Franz |work=Lambiek Comiclopedia}}</ref>
-Her first graphic novel ''Alien'' appeared in 2011; it was also published in France under the title ''Petite Terrienne'' by Éditions çà et là <ref name="caetla">{{cite web |url=https://www.caetla.fr/_Aisha-Franz_ |title=Franz, Aisha |publisher=Éditions çà et là |language=fr |access-date=2017-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184532/http://www.caetla.fr/_Aisha-Franz_ |archive-date=2018-11-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in English as ''Earthling'' by [[Drawn & Quarterly]]. Her work has been published in Germany by {{ill|Rotopolpress|de}} and [[Reprodukt]] and has also been included in various anthologies.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/franz_aisha.htm |title=Aisha Franz |work=Lambiek Comiclopedia}}</ref>
+== Career ==
-Her graphic novel ''Alien'' received an award for best foreign work at the 2013 {{ill|Treviso Comic Book Festival|it|Treviso Comics}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trevisocomicbookfestival.it/2013/ |title=2013 |work=Treviso Comic Book Festival |language=it |access-date=2017-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428053231/http://www.trevisocomicbookfestival.it/2013/ |archive-date=2017-04-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+=== Graphic Novels and Comics ===
+Franz's debut graphic novel, ''Alien'' (2011), received international recognition and was published in multiple languages:
-Her work lays in the convergence of daily life routine and the existential inquiries around them, highlighting the absurdity of human reality. She also taught at the [[Kunsthochschule Kassel]] in the class for illustration and comic together with Hendrik Dorgathen.
+* '''French''': ''Petite Terrienne'' (Éditions çà et là)
+* '''English''': ''Earthling'' (Drawn & Quarterly)
-== Selected works ==
+Her work has been widely published in '''Germany''' by '''Reprodukt''' and other publishers and has appeared in various '''comic anthologies'''.
-* ''Alien'' (2011)
-* ''Brigitte und der Perlenhort'' (2013), published in French as ''Brigitte et la perle cachée''
-* ''Shit is Real'' (2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reprodukt.com/produkt/deutscheautoren/shit-is-real/ |title=Shit is Real |language=de |publisher=Reprodukt |access-date=2017-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415114353/http://www.reprodukt.com/produkt/deutscheautoren/shit-is-real/ |archive-date=2017-04-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-* ''Work-Life-Balance''. Reprodukt, Berlin 2022, ISBN 978-3-95640-308-8.
-== References ==
+In '''2013''', ''Alien'' won an award for '''Best Foreign Work''' at the '''Lucerne International Comics Festival'''.
-{{reflist}}
-== External links ==
+Her storytelling often '''merges mundane daily life with deeper existential reflections''', a hallmark of her artistic style.
-* [http://www.fraufranz.com/ Official website]
-{{Authority control}}
+=== Published Works ===
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Franz, Aisha}}
+* '''Alien''' (2011) (''Earthling'' in English, ''Petite Terrienne'' in French)
+* '''Brigitte und der Perlenhort''' (2013) (''Brigitte et la perle cachée'' in French)
+* '''Shit is Real''' (2016)
+* '''Work-Life-Balance''' (Reprodukt, 2022)
+== Themes and Style ==
+Franz’s work is recognized for its '''minimalist yet expressive art style''', which complements her '''explorations of identity, routine, and the surreal aspects of daily life'''. She frequently tackles themes of '''urban alienation, interpersonal relationships, and self-discovery''', using a '''darkly humorous and introspective approach'''.{{DEFAULTSORT:Franz, Aisha}}
 [[Category:1984 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]