Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) and Thurber House are pleased to announce Ronald Wimberly as the winner of the fifth annual Graphic Novelist Residency. Each year, a committee of local comic critics, curators, and creators seek graphic artists from outside Columbus who demonstrate an experimental approach to creating comics and graphic novels. The three-week residency is designed to provide the winner with an opportunity to develop a work-in-progress and exhibit their work at CMA. Wimberly will receive a stipend and housing in the two-bedroom apartment located in the historic home of author and New Yorker cartoonist, James Thurber. In addition, the residency will enable Wimberly to participate in public programming and interact with local artists and comic communities. Previous winners include Paul Hornschemeier, Ed Piskor, Lilli Carré, and Eleanor Davis.
Ronald Wimberly is a graphic artist from Brooklyn whose work is known to combine traditional and experimental elements as well as bring attention to contemporary social issues. Referring to himself as a “graphic mixologist,” Wimberly has worked with a wide variety of media. He is the creator of the graphic novel Prince of Cats, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in a mythological version of New York City at the dawn of hip-hop that is completely written in iambic pentameter. In addition to illustrating multiple graphic novels, Wimberly has worked with notable comic publishers, such as Marvel and DC comics. Wimberly has animated characters for the Cartoon Network and has worked as a graphic designer for companies such as Nike, Mishka, and the Criterion Collection. His online comic Lighten Up gained widespread acclaim in 2015 and inspired important conversations about representation and editorial bias in the mainstream comics industry. He has announced two upcoming projects for Image: Sunset Park, a story about vampires and gentrification in Brooklyn, and Slave Punk, about 19th century inventors who are slaves in the American south.
Related Programming
2016 Graphic Novelist Residency Exhibition
On view September 2, 2016 – February 19, 2017
This exhibition showcases the variety of Ronald Wimberly’s creative practice and includes art works in several media.
Artist’s Talk and Interview
Sunday, October 16, 2:30 PM
Ronald Wimberly speaks about his creative process with interviewer, comics writer, and blogger Jared Gardner, a professor of English and Film Studies at OSU. This program is part of the cXc, Cartoon Crossroads Columbus festival. Admission is free, no reservations requested. For more details about cXc, visit cartooncrossroadscolumbus.com
Columbus Museum of Art creates great experiences with great art for everyone. The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Nationwide Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and the Henry D. and Carol B. Clark, Hermann Vorys, Fred Sands Family, Sayre Charitable, and James W. Overstreet funds of The Columbus Foundation provide ongoing support. CMA, Schokko Art Café, and the Museum Store are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and until 9:00 PM every Thursday. Museum admission is $14 for adults; $8 for seniors and students 6 and older; and free for members, children 5 and younger. Admission is free for all on Sundays. PNC Free Sundays presented by PNC Arts Alive is made possible through a grant from PNC Foundation. For additional information, call 614.221.6801 or visit www.columbusmuseum.org
About Thurber House: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Thurber House opened its doors in 1984 as a non-profit literary center and museum located in the former home of author, and New Yorker cartoonist, James Thurber. Our mission is to celebrate the written word for the education and entertainment of the broadest possible audience, and to continue the legacy of James Thurber. Thurber House is proud to be in a city and a state that provides generous support to the arts. For additional information, please visit www.ThurberHouse.org.
