Bianca Xunise

Bianca Xunise is a Lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), primarily affiliated with the Department of Painting and Drawing. She holds a BFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2012). Her work spans exhibitions at institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and Naughton Gallery, Belfast, alongside publications in Believer Magazine, Vogue, Nylon, and The Washington Post. She has authored works such as Say Her Name and Be Gay Do Comics.

Dr. Xunise specializes in comics as a medium for exploring themes of illness, disability, and recovery through courses like Comics Narratives: Illness, Disability and Recovery and ARTSAD: The Artist Formerly Known as Starving: Freelancing Comics and Illustration. Her teaching integrates professional practices for freelance artists, including contract negotiation, portfolio development, and industry-standard resources like The Freelancer's Bible and The Graphic Artist Guild Pricing and Ethical Guidelines Handbook.

• Awards: Ignatz Awards for Promising New Talent and Outstanding Anthology, Koyama Provides Grant
• Key Courses Taught:
  • Comics Painting and Drawing 2002
  • ARTSAD Freelancing Seminar
  • Art Therapy 4010 (Illness Narratives)

Her research bridges graphic medicine, art therapy, and disability studies, emphasizing storytelling as a tool for societal dialogue on marginalized health experiences.