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Get to know us.

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.

Illustration Faculty

Allan Comport

Allan Comport, Chair of the Illustration Department has been working as an artist's representative and educator for the past 30 years.

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David Drakula

Born as David Drakula in Edgewood, Maryland, and raised in Baltimore, he later began going by the name David Drakula.

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Joyce Hesselberth

Joyce Hesselberth's illustrations have appeared in national ad campaigns, theater productions, and numerous major newspapers and magazines.

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Dave Inscore

Dave Inscore is a 22 year game industry veteran. He began his career as an art intern at Microprose Software in 1995 and quickly rose to the position of Art Director in 2000 after co-founding Big Huge Games in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Aya Kakeda

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.

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Andrea Kalfas

Andrea Kalfas is a freelance illustrator who's been soaking up the charm of Baltimore since 2008 after graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in Illustration.

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Warren Linn

Warren Linn has exhibited and produced illustrative work for major magazines, newspapers, recording packages, and corporate clients since 1968.

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Sam Lacombe

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.

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Patrick O'Brien

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.

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Lisa Perrin

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.

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Matt Rota

Matt Rota is a New York-based illustrator and fine artist specializing in narrative technique with watercolor and ink media.

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Deanna Staffo

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.

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Shadra Strickland

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.

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Hayley Powers Thornton-Kennedy

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.

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Heidi Younger

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.

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Lisa Perrin

Joining the Illustration faculty is illustrator and lettering artist Lisa Perrin. 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.

Learn more about Lisa