Ashanti Fortson

Ashanti Fortson is an award-winning cartoonist, comics editor, color designer, and multidisciplinary illustrator. Their work explores the rifts and connections between people, they are deeply interested in textiles, and their love for color is a thread that runs through everything they make. 

Their short comic Leaf Lace won the 2021 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic, and Shades of Fear, the color-focused horror comics anthology they co-edited with Allison O'Toole, won in 2022 for Outstanding Anthology. Ashanti has done color design for various graphic novels, and has illustrated picture books as well. Ashanti also co-wrote The Broken Heart at The Center of Comics with Shannon Wright, Lillie J. Harris, and Sunmi. Ashanti lives in a mushroom with their spouse, their cat Miss Cheese, and at least three pet rats at all times. 

Ashanti runs Seatoad Studio with their spouse, Binglin Hu, where the two of them sell handmade artist goods and printed copies of their comics/zines. Ashanti also has a Ko-fi shop where they sell illustrated wallpapers and other digital goods.