Annie Koyama Contributes Vast Collection of Original Art to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum

Annie Koyama, owner and publisher of Toronto’s Koyama Press, has donated a large selection of original artwork to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (BICLM). Koyama is donating over 250 original pieces from a wide range of contemporary cartoonist. The list provided by the BICLM includes Lisa Hanawalt, Theo Ellsworth, Katie Skelly, Noah Van Sciver, Eleanor Davis, Dustin Harbin, Frank Santoro, Gabrielle Bell, Hellen Jo, Kevin Huizenga, and nearly one hundred others that weren’t mentioned. This is a great snapshot of the world of alternative comics from the last decade or so and something that should be of interest for every comic art enthusiasts. The collection will be on display in 2018 from May 6 to October 21 to coincide with Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC).

Annie Koyama has started assembling a collection of original art in 2013 with the intent of donating it to the museum. Since most of these artists make a living by selling both comics and their original pages, assembling a collection that can be consulted at the BICLM creates a fantastic resource for researchers and the public. I like the work Koyama Press has released over the years. They publish such a wide range of talented cartoonist such as Michael Deforge, Jesse Jacobs, Tin Can Forest, Julie Delporte and Jane Mai, it’s always interesting to see what they’ll publish next. I have no doubt that Annie Koyama has similarly assembled a wonderful collection of art. You can see one of the original by Tim Hensley below

I selfishly wish this donation would have been made to a Canadian museum so it would be easier for me to access, but I can’t think of a better location than the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum for these artworks to be preserved. We should all be planning a trip to Columbus to get visit this exhibit in 2018.

You can find more details at the BICLM website.