Open Talk – The Expanded Field of Illustration. Porto, Portugal, 2017

Karen Lacroix is an ilustrator, designer and publisher based in Porto (Portugal) and London (UK). She has taught visual narratives since 2009 at Richmond University (UK) and works for an eclectic range of clients such as the English Touring Opera, Bright Ivy and the Bishopsgate Institute. After an MA in Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art founded Uncanny Editions, an illustration publisher & studio exploring different modes of publication practice, collaborating with institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery and The Photographers’ Gallery. She is the founder and coordinator of the Illustration School in Porto, Portugal. Her work is represented in collections such as MoMA (US), University College London and London College of Communication (UK), among others.

Matilde Seabra is a graduate of the School of Architecture of the University of Porto and co-founder of the architecture studio Poças Martins Seabra. She is part of the collective that edits the architecture fanzine Friendly Fire. Between 2009 and 2013 she was assistant tutor at the Polytechnic Institute of Porto on the MA in Visual Arts and Artistic Technologies. Matilde is experienced in working with several cultural institutions such as the Serralves Foundation, José de Guimarães International Art Center and Douro Museum. Co-founder of Talkie Walkie.

Chloë King is a journalist and illustrator based in East Sussex. An RCA graduate and Guild of Food Writers member, Chloë writes regular magazine features, often on food and design, and runs a book club and events series entitled Cook the Books. As founding editor of the experimental art journal Monika, Chloë’s work is featured in two books from Gestalten. Her publication credits include Great British Chefs, Eye, The Pool, Metro, Buzzfeed and
The Idler, and her broader portfolio includes print design, blogging, magazine editing, TV production and event management. Chloë is a visiting lecturer at universities including Northbrook College Sussex and Camberwell College of Art.

Inês Neto dos Santos is a multi-disciplinary artist, born in Lisbon and based in London. She graduated from MA Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art in 2016. Inês’s work explores the value of spaces, whether architectural or natural, and our relationship to them, investigating their emotional and social value and considering them as vessels for memory. Her practice often takes shape in immersive spaces, experiences or installations and frequently runs on collaborations with other artists and creatives. Recently, Inês has explored the value of food and shared eating spaces, considering the dinner table as a fundamental platform for discussion and conversation. She founded Mesa.

Alexandra Rafael is a printmaking artist based in Porto, Portugal. She holds an MA in Drawing and Printmaking from the School of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, where she developed research about transfer processes to printmaking surfaces. Since then she has been participating in several exhibitions and artistic residencies around the country.

Isabel Moseley is a Manchester based artist and bookmaker working predominantly with ephemeral and fragile materials. Studying in London she found much inspiration in architectural details and geometric forms. I translate these inspirations into her work using experimental printmaking and bookbinding techniques. she exhibited in Greater Manchester; Ny Space Gallery, Bankley Gallery’s Open Call, Japan; Hall of Awa Paper Museum.

Júlio Dolbeth is an artist, illustrator and lecturer at the School of Arts of the University of Porto. He holds a BA in Communication Design, MA in Multimedia Art and a PhD in Art and Design in the eld of illustration.
He is the co-founder of the illustration gallery Dama A ita in Porto, where he is also a curator. He has shown his work regularly in solo and group exhibitions.

Rui Vitorino Santos has a PhD in Art and Design, in the eld of illustration. He is a professor of Communication Design and Illustration at the School of Fine Arts of the University of Porto. Frequently develops curatorial projects and research in Illustration and also participates regularly in individual and group shows in illustration. Founding member of the association and gallery Dama A ita, in Porto, dedicated to illustration and drawing.

Francisco Lisboa studied management in UTAD university. For 14 year worked in the parcel delivery company where he was general manager. Since his “happy place” is around a table, with his friends and family, with good wine and better food, in 2013, he founded Wander Steps, a company that dedicates itself to organizing food and wine tours, around Portugal. 2016 brought a new project related with food. Armazém do Queijo was thought as a way to show, in Porto, that cheese has a lot of shapes.

André da Silva is a Biologist and founder of the organic farming project Bio em Casa.

Celestino Fonseca & Maria Teresa Almeida are designers and sculptor. They are also chocolate-makers, founders of the chocolate brand chocolataria Equador.