Celebrate 10 years of Graphic Brighton and explore the architecture of comics and graphic novels

Taking place over two days this weekend, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December, the event delves into the fascinating theme of graphic architecture, looking at how buildings are depicted in comics and how these two art forms inform and inspire one another.

The festival is curated by University of Brighton PhD researcher Alex Fitch, presenter of the UK’s only monthly broadcast radio show about comics Panel Borders and Senior Lecturer Barbara Chamberlain. With a schedule that blends academic insight and artistic practice, this year’s event promises engaging talks, panel discussions, and workshops with renowned creators, academics, and architects who have embraced comics as a medium for storytelling and design.

Graphic Brighton is unique among comic book festivals for having an equal balance between academic activities and talks by graphic novel creators, making it a fantastic experience for scholars, students, and fans of comics alike.

Key speakers and events include:

• Enrique Bordes, associate professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and author of Cómic, arquitectura narrativa, delivering the keynote address on how comics and architecture converge.

• Sessions with acclaimed comic creators such as Karrie Fransman, Woodrow Phoenix, and Zara Slattery, exploring themes of sustainability, urban storytelling, and historical design.

• Contributions from architects and interior designers, including Henry Chebaane, Sabba Khan, and Alison Sampson, who bring their professional insights into how comics can reimagine architectural narratives.

• Workshops, including Humour and Messing with Architecture in Comics, led by Coventry University’s Clari Searle, offering an interactive and creative experience for attendees.

Alex Fitch, whose research bridges comics and architectural theory, said: “Graphic Brighton has always been a space where comics meet wider disciplines, but this year’s theme of Graphic Architecture showcases how sequential art can uniquely capture our interactions with buildings and spaces. It’s a platform for creators, academics, and architects to connect and share ideas that shape both the comics and construction industries.”

Join us for two days of thought-provoking discussions, live demonstrations, and creative workshops that celebrate the power of comics as a storytelling medium and their deep connection to the built environment.

Graphic Brighton runs from 10am – 6pm, Friday 13 – Saturday 14 December 2024 in the Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton, City campus, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 0JY.

Book your free ticket via Eventbrite.

Staff related to this story

Alex Fitch

Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, Experimental Design Practices Research Excellence Group, Radical Methodologies (RaM) Research Excellence Group, Comics and Graphic Narratives Research Excellence Group, Doctoral College, School of Arch, Tech and Eng

Dr Barbara Chamberlin

Senior Lecturer – School of Humanities and Social Science

Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, Comics and Graphic Narratives Research Excellence Group