1. Comics Talks - Biko, Fisher, Weaver

    Presentation, Bolderāja, Avotu iela 29, Riga, 14.12.2022, 19:00-21:00

    Our December resident Jordan Troy Biko from London will talk about his colorful illustration and animation universe. Local artist Noorie Fisher will read from her newest comic and special guest Hal Weaver presents his comic and short film 'Nightvision'!

    Illustration by Jordan Troy Biko
  2. BOOKED

    Exhibition, MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre, Cable Factory, Helsinki, 26.11.-18.12.2022

    kuš! mono #7 'Lemon Yellow' by Ciara Quilty-Harper was selected for the art book exhibition BOOKED 2022 in Helsinki! Lemon Yellow is a book of over 70 hand-drawn illustrations and a trio of narratives on empathy and subjective responses to colour. 

    BOOKED 2022 is an exhibition devoted to artists’ books, conceptual literature and text-based artworks that is being organized by MUU, Finland’s interdisciplinary art association. The exhibition will be presented in MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre in the Cable Factory, 26 November - 18 December 2022.

  3. REBEL REBEL K

    Exhibition, Kuldīgas Mākslas Nams, Kuldīga, 21.10.-23.12.2022

    Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Kuš!, we're happy to present our LOW gallery show with a selection of local and international artists at Kuldiga Art House!  Artists: Anna Malicka (Latvia), Indrė Svirplytė (Lithuania/ Belgium), Mārtiņš Zutis (Latvia), Samplerman (France), Tara Booth (USA), Zody Burke (USA/ Estonia).

    Opening: Friday 21. October, 6 pm

    This project has been generously supported by Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation, Kuldīga Municipality and Kuldīga Artist's Residency

    Flyer Image: Anna Malicka

  4. Grafixx

    Festival, De Studio, Antwerpen, Belgium, 25.-27.11.2022

    kuš! is very happy to be part of the 10th anniversary edition of Grafixx! Editor David Schilter together with Latvian artist Līga Spunde will have a stand selling books and prints and representing the Latvian comics scene.

    Support: Latvian Literature

  5. Back to Nature

    Exhibition, Tinta Festival, DobraVaga, Ljubljana, 06.10.-12.11.2022

    Isn't nature just utterly beautiful? Sometimes, we feel this urge to get “back to nature”, but mostly we stand with our backs to it. Let’s face it: we are destroying the natural world with every step. Literally. At our current pace, the apocalypse seems unavoidable. But is it? It might already be too late to change, but it’s definitely inevitable if we don’t even try.

    The exhibition celebrates nature in its many forms, showcasing works by Latvian artists Rebeka Lukošus, Oskars Pavlovskis, Lote Vilma, Agate Lielpētere, Ingrīda Pičukāne, Vivianna Maria Stanislavska and Mārtiņš Zutis, as well as Mark Antonius Puhkan (Estonia), Ciara Quilty-Harper (UK/Ireland), Theo Ellsworth (USA) and Harukichi (Japan).

    Exhibition opening : THU, 6. 10. 2022, 20.00

    As part of the exhibition, visiting authors Rebeka Lukošus and Vivianna Maria Stanislavska will lead the 'Come Back, Nature!' zine workshop on Friday, 7th October.

    On Saturday from 10.00–20.00 you can find us at the kuš! table in Kino Šiška!

    Supported by: Latvian Literature

    Illustration by: Oskars Pavlovskis

  6. Remix Comix

    Comic Seminar, Workshop, Fabrika, Novi Sad, Serbia, 28.-30.10.2022

    kuš! will be in the European Capital of Culture Novi Sad attending Remix Comix! Oskars Pavlovskis together with David Schilter will hold a comics zine making workshop and also tell about art comics and zine publishing in Latvia and beyond!


    Illustration: Oskars Pavlovskis

  7. Artist Talk with Julia Boehme and Zlata Novykova

    Presentation, Bolderāja, Avotu iela 29, Riga, 26.10.2022, 19:00-21:00

    Meet the current kuš! residents Julia Boehme from Leipzig and Zlata Novykova from Kyiv. They'll tell about their work and what they are up to in Riga. Maybe there will even be a comics reading... Come and see!

    Zlata Novykova's residency is sponsored by kuš! in support of art from Ukraine. #slavaukraini

    Illustration by Julia Boehme and Zlata Novykova
  8. Cozi

    Comic and Zine Festival, Studierendenhaus/Festsaal, Frankfurt, 21.–23.10.2022

    kuš! is happy to be part of Cozi in Frankfurt! kuš! will be represented by Zane Zlemeša, she will bring the newest kuš! releases and also her own zines and prints.

    UNFORTUNATELY KUŠ! TABLE IS CANCELLED DUE TO COVID

  9. Artist talk with Janne Marie Dauer and Marco Quadri

    Presentation, Bolderāja, Avotu iela 29, Riga, 28.09.2022, 19:00-21:00

    Meet our current kuš! residents Janne Marie Dauer and Marco Quadri. They will tell about their personal work and hold a comics reading!
    Illustration by Janne Marie Dauer and Marco Quadri
  10. Rebel Rebel

    Exhibition, LOW gallery, Lāčplēša iela 78A, Riga, Latvia 21.07-17.09.2022

    Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Kuš!, we're happy to present a selection of local and international artists at LOW gallery and releasing our anniversary edition š! #45 'Rebel Rebel'. Artists: Anna Malicka (Latvia), Disa Wallander (Sweden), Indrė Svirplytė (Lithuania/ Belgium), Mārtiņš Zutis (Latvia), Samplerman (France), Tara Booth (USA), Zody Burke (USA/ Estonia).

    Open Thursdays and Fridays from 15:00-18:00 and Saturdays from 14:00-17:00.

    This is a travelling exhibition, with LOW + Kuš! taking the show onward to Kuldīga Art House in the end of September. Photo reports on O Fluxo and echo gone wrong

    This project has been generously supported by Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation, Kuldīga Municipality, Kuldīga Artist's Residency and Malduguns.

    Flyer Image: Zody Burke, Flyer design: David Ashley Kerr, Photos: Līga Spunde
  11. Indiecon 2022

    Independent Publishing Festival, Oberhafen, Hamburg, Germany, 02.-04.09.2022

    kuš! is happy to be nominated by the curational board and will have a table at the Independent Publishing Festival Indiecon in Hamburg! kuš! will be represented by Zane Zlemeša, she will bring the newest kuš! releases and also her own zines and prints. Nicht verpassen!

  12. Participatory workshops

    Pauls Stradins Medicine History Museum, Antonijas iela 1, Riga, 10.09.2022

    The Pauls Stradins Medicine History Museum in collaboration with the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art continues the Participatory Workshops launched in March this year, in which artists strive to promote public engagement in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the urban environment you will notice "kuš!" comic artists' instructions on what to do in different crisis situations. On the 10th and 15th of September, the museum will host a series of workshops and a discussion on "The Art of Conversation in Times of War", where you can learn crisis intervention skills under the guidance of experts and find out how art can help bring society together.

    The artists involved are Elīna Brasliņa, Ernests Kļaviņs, Jana Ribkina and Oskars Pavlovskis.  You can download their emergency prepardness posters here.

    Kuš! will be present with a table with free posters and books for sale on 10 September from 11.00 to 16.00. Find the rest of the program here.

    Illustration: Elīna Brasliņa

  13. SPX 2022

    Small Press Expo, Bethseda, Maryland, USA, 17.-18.09.2022

    kuš! will be attending the one and only SPX! Together with special guest Lote Vilma, kuš! will have a stand selling books at table M1.

    Meet us also on the 18th of September from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm in the White Flint Auditorium. There will be the panel discussion "Spotlight On kuš!: The Latvian Publisher With An International Vision." Moderator Rob Clough discusses with kuš! editor David Schilter and artists Lote Vilma, Box Brown, Matt Madden, and Noah Van Sciver!

    kuš! is also very proud, that their anthology š! #42 'Scientific Facts'has been nominated for an Ignatz in the category "Outstanding Anthology". You can register to vote here: https://www.smallpressexpo.com/ignatz-ballot-request/
    Illustration: Lote Vilma
  14. Waldgeschichten

    Exhibition, Jauniešu telpā, Agenskalns Tirgus, Riga, Latvia, 04.07 - 27.08.2022

    The results of our forest-themed comics workshop with Michel Esselbrügge in cooperation with the Goethe Institut Riga are on display at Agenskalns tirgus in the framework of SĀBRS festival!

    Artists from Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Russia created comics about the forest. Michel Esselbrügge, Alberta Ziemele, AmandaJ-Art, Anna Vaivare, Jurjis Tatarkins, Krista Bitmete, Lote Vilma Vītiņa, Magdalena Kaszuba, Mārtiņš Zutis, Noorie Fisher, Rebeka Lukošus, Richard Thompson, Rūta Kygaitė, Sabīne Moore, Stas Bashilov und Zlata Novikova. The results are printed by risograph and are also available as a poster book. 

    The comics of the exhibition can also be viewed online here!

    Illustration: Michel Esselbrügge

  15. Open Studios

    Open Studio, Vienības gatve 20, Riga, 27.07.2022, 18:00

    Your chance to visit the kuš! office, the studios of Anna Vaivare, Zane Veldre, Rebeka Lukošus, Zīle Ziemele, Austra, Vivianna Maria Stanislavska, and LOW Gallery! You can also buy some prints or books from us and the artists, and have a look at our mess for free! Maybe you can even find a space for yourself and make your own creative mess!

  16. documenta fifteen

    Lumbung of Publishers, documenta fifteen, Kassel, Germany, 06.-10.07.2022

    kuš! is proud to be a selected member of the Lumbung of Publishers at documenta fifteenkuš! will take part in the Lumbung of Publishers assembly represented by it's editor David Schilter and by it's designer Monika Grūzīte.

  17. Artist Talk with Magdalenz Kaszuba

    Presentation, Bolderāja, Avotu iela 29, Riga, 25.05.2022, 19:00-21:00

    Meet our current kuš! resident Magdalena Kaszuba. She will tell about her personal work, hold a comics reading, and present MamiVerlag!
    .
    Magdalena Kaszuba was born 1988 in Poland and grew up in Germany. She studied Illustration at the University of Applied Science in Hamburg und finished her master's degree in Febuary 2022. During her studies she specialized in comics. Her first graphic novel "The empyt vessel" was published in 2018 by the publishing house avant-verlag and currently she is working on two new graphic novels. Since 2019 she runs the publishing house MamiVerlag together with two friends. It's an indie-publishing house focussing on picture stories and comics. She lives and works in Hamburg.
  18. Comics Workshop with Michel Esselbrügge

    Workshop, Goethe-Institut Riga, Berga bazārs, Marijas iela 13 k-1, 06.-08.05.2022

    Michel Esselbrügge will lead a comic workshop on the topic "Forest" at the Goethe-Institut Riga. Together we'll discover various forest stories and transform them into comics. Michel will make a short introduction into the basics of comics and show the silliness cartooning offers us to redraw serious topics in a different, emotionally accessible way. With many tips and tricks the participants will each create their own short comic about the forest. The best results will after the workshop be printed as riso posters and exhibited around Latvia. 

    Michel Esselbrügge was born 1990 in Bielefeld, Germany. He studied Visual Communication at the  Kunsthochschule Kassel. He is a co-founder of the Institute for Contemporary Cartooning and part of the collective FanArt. His comics have been published in international anthologies such as Orang, Kuti and kuš! and on vice.com. His first book Langfinger & Wackelzahn was published in 2018 by Rotopol and translated to French by l'employé du moi in 2021. In this coming-of-age story also the forest plays an important role.

    The workshop is open for adult participants from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Language: English. Participation is free. The current epidemological regulations will be observed.

    Dates and Place
    06.05.2022 (18.00- 20.00), 07.05.2022 (11.00-18.00), 08.05.2022 (11.00-17.00)
    Goethe-Institut Riga, Berga bazārs, Marijas iela 13 k-1

    The spaces are limited, therefore you need to apply with the following information to kushmens@gmail.com:  
    - Name, age, city
    - Link to your blog/portfolio (alternatively three drawings, or comics pages)
    - Brief motivation letter

    Application deadline: 22 April 2022

    Travel Grants
    The Goethe Institute Riga offers four travel grants of 50.00 euros for participants from Estonia and Lithuania. The application procedure is the same as above, just mention you are interested in a travel grant.

    Organizers
    The workshop is organized by Goethe-Institut Riga in collaboration with kuš!

    Questions?
    Write to kushmens@gmail.com

  19. Artist Talk with Zody Burke

    Presentation, Bolderāja, Avotu iela 29, Riga, 27.04.2022, 19:00-21:00

    Meet our current kuš! resident Zody Burke! She just had her first solo show "(mouse trap)" at DOM gallery and will tell us about her work from comics to ceramics and more...

    Zody Burke is an American multimedia artist currently living in Tallinn. Her disciplines are mutable but she is a musician and performer, as well as a sculptor and illustrator who has shown work around the USA and Europe. She began showcasing her visual work as a teenager in the punk scene of the mid aughts, in the form of comics and flyers for DIY shows in her hometown of Brooklyn. Much of her subsequent practice has used this foundation of comic illustration as a jumping off point, to inform sculptural mixed media work, narrative storytelling in the form of music, and so on.

    As the noise-pop musician Sapphogeist, Zoe is interested in hyperconnectivity's passive creation of simulacra, the tenuousness of language, and the birth-pangs of the post-physical world. She is also a member of the pan-American experimental country music group Buck Young, who work with perceived histories of traditional music and push them through a turbine of cartoonish yet abysmal melancholy; the project being very informed by the artists' histories with noise/experimental projects & mutual love of American country music.

    She lives and works in Tallinn, Estonia and is currently pursuing a MFA in Contemporary Art from the Eesti Kunstiakadeemia.



  20. Baltics Gone Wild

    Exhibition, Baba Jaga Fest, Industrie Fluviali, Rome, 08.-10.-4.2022

    Kuš! will be in Rome at the brand new Baba Jaga Fest with a special exhibition by Akvile Magicdust and Gvidas Pakarklis from Lithuania, Jana Ribkina and Pauls Rietums from Latvia, and Mark Antonius Puhkan from Estonia. Come and discover these fresh comic gems from the Baltic States.

    Support: Latvian Literature

  21. Fumetto 2022

    Small Press Market, Lucerne, Switzerland, 02.-03.04.2022

    After a long break we'll be back at Fumetto! kuš! will have a table at the first weekend at the International Comics Arts Festival Fumetto in Lucerne. kuš! will be represented by it's editor David Schilter and by König Lü.Q..

  22. Comics Talk with Omar Cheikh and Tim Ng Tvedt

    Presentation, Bolderāja, Avotu iela 29, Riga, 24.02.2022, 19:00-21:00

    Meet the kuš! residents Omar Cheikh and Tim Ng Tvedt who will present their work and show a special collaboration.

    Omar Cheikh is an illustrator, comic artist and animator from Italy. His work is published in kuš, Invisible Lines and other publications. Besides drawing, he collects sounds, noise around and objects from the ground.
    Tim Ng Tvedt is a cartoonist from Norway. His most recent publication is "SNAKKEBOB, jeg?" a collection of thirty SNAKKEBOB comic strips published at Jippi comics.

  23. Comics Talks with Ana Margarida Matos and Mohar Kalra

    Presentation, Bolderāja, Avotu iela 29, Riga, 20.01.2022, 19:00-21:00

    Meet our current resident artist Ana Margarida Matos from Portugal and special guest Mohar Kalra from the USA! They will present their work in comics and also have some short comic readings!

    Ana Margarida Matos is a Portuguese artist based in Almada, Portugal. Freshly graduated from FBAUL in Painting, she hasn’t been seen holding a paintbrush in over 2 years, instead she dedicates all of her time to make very cool comics deconstructing the concepts of identy, otherness and the self.

    Mohar Kalra is a cartoonist and media artist from New York and currently based in Tartu, Estonia. He experiments with perception to craft narratives that seek meaning and poetry in the networks of relations we tangle with every day.

    Free entry. Please bring a valid covid pass and a mask.!

    Illustration by Ana Margarida Matos

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