María Medem

MARIA MEDEM, FROM FANZINES TO THE NEW YORKER

After studying Fine Arts, María Medem began her journey in comics by self-publishing fanzines. In 2018, "Zenith," her first graphic novel, was published, which won the Best New Author award at the Barcelona Comic Fair and the ACDCómic Prize for Best Emerging Author. Since then, she has built an international career, collaborating with The New York Times, The New Yorker, and A24.

In 2023, "Land of Mirrors" was published by Blackie Books and Apa-Apa Cómics. At first, it was just a short story, which evolved into a graphic novel that pushes the boundaries of the genre. “Land of Mirrors” is her most successful work to date. Already translated into French, in 2025 it was released also in English, making Medem the first Spanish author to be published by the renowned publisher Drawn & Quarterly.

"María Medem’s magic and poetry take us to the places she draws. I can hear, smell, touch, and feel every part of this story until I see my soul reflected on each page." That's how film director Carla Simón described her work.

Medem's style is instantly recognisable. She uses colour in a non-realistic, more emotional than descriptive way, creating images relatable to the senses. Putting it in her own words: "That's my drawing style. Using unrealistic colours that are perfect for adding that sensory layer."

Beyond comics, she has worked on a variety of projects, including posters, album covers, music videos, and installations. One of her latest projects is OFFF Sevilla 2024 poster.