Conor Stechschulte

Conor Stechschulte is an Assistant Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), specializing in Printmedia. He teaches courses such as Comics to Print, Deep Risography, and Adventures in Self-Publishing, emphasizing experimental print techniques and challenging institutional hierarchies. His research focuses on self-publishing as a tool for democratizing art and eroding cultural gatekeeping. Stechschulte’s work includes the graphic novel Ultrasound (2022), adapted into a feature film, and Portage (2023). He has exhibited internationally and received awards like the Eisner Award nomination and the Marion Kryczka Excellence in Teaching Award. His artistic practice spans comics, installations, and collaborative projects, often exploring themes of identity, memory, and perception.

Education: BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), MFA from SAIC.

Research Interests: Experimental printmaking (Risograph and offset), self-publishing cultures, visual storytelling, and the intersection of art and community.

Recent Highlights: Films in collaboration with Magnolia Films; exhibitions at Mana Contemporary and Cleaner Gallery; publications with Fantagraphics, Colorama Press, and Coconino Press. His courses integrate technical mastery with critical discourse on art’s role in society.

Labs/Teams: Involved with Risograph collectives and artist-publishers like Colorama and Anemone Press, fostering global networks in independent publishing.