Lawrence Lindell
{{Short description|American cartoonist, speaker, and musician}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Lawrence Lindell
| image = Lawrence Lindell at SPX 2020.jpg
| caption = Lindell at a panel at the Small Press Expo 2020
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|2|4}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = {{Plainlist}}
{{endplainlist}}
| occupation = Cartoonist, author, musician, educator and artist
| genre =
| movement =
| notableworks= From Truth With Truth ,
Couldn’t Afford Therapy, So I Made This,
From Black Boy With Love,
The BAYlies
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Lawrence Lindell (born February 4, 1988) is an American cartoonist, speaker, and musician. He has written autobiographical comics including From Truth With Truth and Couldn’t Afford Therapy, So I Made This.{{Cite web |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/indie-view-from-truth-with-truth-is-ultimately-empowering/ |title=Indie View: From Truth With Truth is ultimately empowering |first=John |last=Seven |date=February 5, 2020 |website=The Beat }}{{Cite web |url=https://themighty.com/2017/12/lawrence-lindell-comic-couldnt-afford-therapy-so-i-made-this/ |title=This Man Couldn't Afford Therapy, So He Made This |website=The Mighty |date=12 June 2024 }} His work covers mental health issues, blackness, and queerness.{{Cite web |url=https://goldengatexpress.org/90773/ae/artist-faces-mental-health-through-comic-art/ |title=Artist faces mental health through comic art|first=Whitney|last=Papalii}} He lives in the Bay Area, California.{{Cite web |url=https://www.natbrut.com/lawrence-lindell |title=Lawrence Lindell |website=Nat. Brut |date=Fall 2019 }} Lindell is open about living with bipolar depression and PTSD; two of the main themes of his work. He has a forthcoming middle-grade graphic novel called Buckle Up due out in August 2024 with Random House Graphic.{{Cite web |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/lawrence-lindell-sells-middle-grade-graphic-novel-buckle-up/ |title=Lawrence Lindell Sells Middle-Grade Graphic Novel, Buckle up |work=Bleeding Cool |date=16 May 2021 }} His 2023 graphic novel Blackward, with Drawn and Quarterly,{{cite web |url=https://smashpages.net/2022/11/04/slugfest-have-a-very-criminal-christmas/ |title=Slugfest: Have a very 'Criminal' Christmas |author=JK Parkin |work=Smash Pages |date=November 4, 2022 }} was shortlisted for the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Graphic Novel{{cite web |url=https://www.them.us/story/lambda-literary-awards-2024-shortlist-announcement |title=Announcing the Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards |work=them. |date=2024-03-27 |access-date=2024-04-05 }} and nominated for the 2024 Eisner Awards for Best Publication for Teens.{{cite web | url=https://www.slj.com/story/2024-Eisner-Award-Nominations-Announced | title=2024 Eisner Award Nominations Announced }}
Early life and education
Lindell is from Compton, California and grew up in various cities in Los Angeles County.{{cite web | url=https://www.natbrut.com/lawrence-lindell | title=Nat. Brut | Issue Eleven | Lawrence Lindell }} He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Otis College of Art and Design, where he majored in illustration and animation. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Comics from California College of the Arts in 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.brokenfrontier.com/baylies-lawrence-lindell-maia-kobabe-tyler-cohen-fred-noland/ |title="I Feel Anthologies Are a Gateway into the Past and Our History as Comic Creators" - Lawrence Lindell Talks about 'The BAYlies' Featuring the Work of 22 Bay Area Cartoonists of Color and Queer Creators |work=Broken Frontier |date=5 October 2020 }}
Career
In 2017, he produced the autobiographical comic Couldn’t Afford Therapy, So I Made This{{Cite web |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-lawrence-lindell-couldnt-afford-therapy-so-he-wrote-this-comic/ |title=Lawrence Lindell Couldn't Afford Therapy So He Wrote This Comic |date=February 7, 2018 |website=Comics Beat }} and From Black Boy With Love which gained media attention from outlets including Huffington Post,{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/new-childrens-book-teaches-black-boys-to-treat-black-girls-with-respect_n_58dec1a3e4b0b3918c837947 |title=New Children's Book Teaches Black Boys To Treat Black Girls With Respect |first=Zahara |last=Hill |date=April 3, 2017 |website=HuffPost }} Afropunk,{{Cite news |url=https://afropunk.com/2017/06/premiere-empowering-picture-book-promotes-self-love-for-black-boys/ |title=Empowering picture book promotes self-love for black boys|date=June 20, 2017 |website=Afropunk }} Atlanta Black Star,{{Cite web |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2017/04/04/childrens-book-black-boy-love-pays-homage-girls-darker-skin/ |title=Children's Book From Black Boy with Love Pays Homage to Girls with Darker Skin |first=Kiersten |last=Willis |work=Atlanta Black Star |date=April 4, 2017 }} and NowThis.
In 2018 he published The Section, which is a web comic about blackness.{{Cite web|url=https://afropunk.com/2018/03/biting-comic-series-dives-black-anxieties-intersectionality-self-love/|title=This biting comic series dives into black anxieties, intersectionality, and self-love|date=March 5, 2018|website=AFROPUNK}} He started the comics archive/collective The BAYlies.{{cite web |url=https://www.thebaylies.com/ |title=Home |website=thebaylies.com}}
In 2020 Lindell self published his graphic memoir "From Truth With Truth",{{Cite web|url=http://smashpages.net/2019/12/17/smash-pages-qa-lawrence-lindell/|title=Smash Pages Q&A: Lawrence Lindell|first= Alex|last=Dueben|date=December 17, 2019|website=SMASH PAGES}} that deals with how he navigated his mental health issues, parents divorce and healing.
His Kickstarter campaign for The BAYlies magazine anthology (a comics magazine that features Bay Area based cartoonists of color and queer cartoonists) was successfully funded.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/how-the-baylies-puts-focus-on-underrepresented-cartoonists-4084708/|title = How 'The BAYlies' Puts Focus on Underrepresented Cartoonists|website = The Hollywood Reporter|date = 29 October 2020}}
Lindell and cartoonist Breena Nuñez started the small press Laneha House.{{cite web |url=https://www.lanehahouse.com/ |title=Home |website=lanehahouse.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13890579/breena-nunez-on-zines-and-feeling-seen-as-an-afro-latina-comic-artist|title = Breena Nuñez on Zines and Feeling Seen as an Afro-Latinx Comic Artist| date=18 December 2020 }}
In 2021 Lindell's graphic memoir "From Truth With Truth" was nominated for The Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics{{Cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-mcduffie-award-finalists-for-2020-announced/|title=Syndicated Comics|date=14 January 2021}} and the Believer Book Award long list for Graphic Narrative.{{Cite web|url=https://believermag.com/logger/the-believer-book-awards-editors-longlists-3/|title = The Believer Book Awards: Editors' Longlists}} He signed on to publish his middle-grade Graphic novel "Buckle Up" with Random House Graphic, which is due out in 2024.
In 2022 Lindell and Breena Nuñez started the Kinnard Awards with Laneha House. The award is named in honor of cartoonist Rupert Kinnard.{{cite web | url=https://www.tcj.com/i-will-stop-the-cavalry-this-weeks-links/ | title=I Will Stop the Cavalry - This Week's Links | date=16 December 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.brokenfrontier.com/kinnard-awards-laneha-house/ | title=Laneha House Announce the Winners of the Inaugural Kinnard Awards Celebrating Comics Community | date=12 December 2022 }}
Music, teaching, and talks
Lindell plays piano and performs live electronic sets.{{Cite web|url=http://m-la.thedelimagazine.com/25337/looking-back-lawrence-lindells-raw-imperfections|title=Looking Back to Lawrence Lindell's "Raw Imperfections" | The Deli Magazine|website=m-la.thedelimagazine.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://m-la.thedelimagazine.com/23053/lawrence-lindell-final-album|title=Lawrence Lindell's final album, release party Friday | The Deli Magazine|website=m-la.thedelimagazine.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://m-la.thedelimagazine.com/21260/cutting-room-on-425-experimental-music-live-visuals-and-haircuts|title=The Cutting Room on 4.25: Experimental music, live visuals, and haircuts | The Deli Magazine|website=m-la.thedelimagazine.com}} He has been releasing music since 2009, under various aliases and his own name.{{Cite web|url=http://m-la.thedelimagazine.com/21575/never-apologize-diy-ethos-lawrence-lindell|title="Never apologize for being who you are" — The DIY ethos of Lawrence Lindell | The Deli Magazine|website=m-la.thedelimagazine.com}}
He started an independent label called Noise Met Sound in 2013, to release his music.{{Cite web|url=https://noisemetsound.bandcamp.com/|title=Noise met Sound|website=Noise met Sound}}
Lindell also teaches, leads zine workshops, hosts comic workshops and gives lectures.{{Cite web|url=https://t.e2ma.net/webview/se0ilb/3c0aaa63554278c4f27ba4b2a9dea009|title=Comics and some important updates!|website=t.e2ma.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://alibi.com/art/56893/story.html|title=Arts Interview: Print Magic|first=Maggie|last=Grimason|website=alibi}}{{Cite web|url=http://qtpocart.libsyn.com/95-breena-nuez-and-lawrence-lindell|title=We Want the Airwaves: 95: Breena Nuñez and Lawrence Lindell|website=qtpocart.libsyn.com}}
In 2018 he was a special guest at Small Press Expo, where he was on the panel “Writing With Bipolar” alongside Ellen Forney, Keiler Roberts and moderated by Rob Clough.{{Cite web|url=https://comicsgrinder.com/2018/09/14/spx-spotlight-ellen-forney-and-rock-steady/|title=Comics Grinder|date=September 14, 2018|website=Comics Grinder}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smallpressexpo.com/speakers/lawrence-lindell|title=Lawrence Lindell "SPX: The Small Press Expo|date=10 June 2018}}
In 2019, he was the guest of honor for San Francisco Zine Fest.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfzinefest.org/guest-of-honor|title=Guest of Honor|website=San Francisco Zine Fest}}{{Cite web|url=https://hoodline.com/2019/08/sf-weekend-desert-nightlife-at-california-academy-of-sciences-yoga-on-the-beach-zine-fest-more|title=SF weekend: Desert NightLife at California Academy of Sciences, yoga on the beach, Zine Fest, more|website=Hoodline|date=29 August 2019}} He gave a lecture at Indiana Tech as part of their Tech Talk series.{{Cite web|url=https://963xke.com/indiana-techs-annual-tech-talks-series-to-explore-identity/|title=Indiana Tech's annual Tech Talks series to explore identity Thursday | 963XKE | Fort Wayne's Classic Rock | Fort Wayne, IN|first=ADAMS|last=NEWS|date=October 16, 2019|website=963xke.com}} He was also a featured guest at Comic Arts Brooklyn 2019, where he was on the Decolonizing Comics Panel with fellow cartoonists Trinidad Escobar and Breena Nuñez, moderated by Minnie Phan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/comic-arts-brooklyn-returns-in-november-with-ware-kominsky-crumb-and-more/|title=Syndicated Comics|first=Heidi|last=MacDonald|date=October 11, 2019|website=The Beat}}
Lindell has written comics for The New Yorker{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/group-meet-ups-be-like|title=Group Meet-Ups Be Like|first=Lawrence|last=Lindell|magazine=The New Yorker|date=17 December 2019}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/feelings-be-hard|title=Feelings Be Hard|first=Lawrence|last=Lindell|magazine=The New Yorker|date=16 February 2020}} Razorcake{{cite web | url=https://razorcake.org/webcomic-553-by-lawrence-lindell/ | title=Webcomic #553 by Lawrence Lindell - Razorcake }} and The San Francisco Examiner.{{cite web | url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/culture/visual-arts/san-francisco-examiner-comix-showcase-5/article_7d5457ca-822c-11ed-80ed-579445eb20df.html | title=Examiner Comix Showcase #5 | date=26 December 2022 }}
Personal life
Lindell lives in California. He is married to fellow cartoonist Breena Nuñez. The two became engaged in 2018 at the East Bay Alternative Zine Fest, which is where they met in 2015 and married in 2020.{{cite web | url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/culture/examiner-comix-showcase-of-san-francisco-cartoon-artists/article_23aa48a6-614d-11ed-bf95-33cf64d8881b.html | title=Examiner Comix Showcase #3 | date=10 November 2022 }}
Bibliography
- From Black Boy With Love, Self Published (2017).
- Couldn't Afford Therapy So I Made This, Self Published (2017).
- From Truth With Truth, Self Published (2020). {{ISBN|978-0-578-63103-5}}
- Still Couldn't Afford Therapy So I Made This, Again, Laneha House (2021). {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-1-6}}
- One with Breena Nuñez, Laneha House (2021). {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-2-3}}
- To Black Girl With Love, Laneha House (2021). {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-5-4}}
- The BAYlies Issue 1 as editor, Laneha House (2021) {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-3-0}}
- Brain Stuffed , Laneha House (2021). {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-8-5}}
- Laneha House No. 1 with Breena Nuñez, Laneha House (2021). {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-0-9}}
- Laneha House No. 2 with Breena Nuñez, Laneha House (2021). {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-6-1}}
- Laneha House No. 3 with Breena Nuñez, Laneha House (2021). {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-7-8}}
- Laneha House No. 4 with Breena Nuñez, Laneha House (2021). {{ISBN|978-1-7361135-4-7}}
- Laneha House No. 5 with Breena Nuñez, Laneha House (2022). {{ISBN|978-1-957172-00-2}}
- Laneha House No. 6 with Breena Nuñez, Laneha House (2022). {{ISBN|978-1-957172-05-7}}
- Comics on My Mind No. 1, Laneha House (2022). {{ISBN|978-1-957172-99-6}}
- Blackward, Drawn and Quarterly (2023). {{ISBN|978-1-770466-78-4}}
- Buckle Up, Random House Graphic (2024). {{ISBN|978-0-593479-78-0}}
- We All Got Something, Drawn and Quarterly (2025). {{ISBN|978-1-770467-73-6}}
Exhibitions
- House of Black. A Black Comics and Zine Art Exhibition, Joint Exhibition with Breena Nuñez (2023).{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfaf.org/collections/status/celebrating-black-queer-art-at-sfaf/|title=House of Black. A Black Comics and Zine Art Exhibition|date=31 May 2023 }}
- Resplendent: Identity & Visibility in Comics, Group Show (2022).{{Cite web|url=https://www.montserrat.edu/resplendent/|title=Resplendent: Identity & Visibility in Comics}}
- A STORY LIKE MINE, Group Show (2022).{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/a-story-like-mine|title=A STORY LIKE MINE}}
- Emerging Artist Showcase: Lawrence Lindell, Solo Art Exhibition (2021).{{Cite web|url=https://www.cartoonart.org/lawrencelindell|title=Emerging Artist Showcase: Lawrence Lindell}}
- The Fine Art of Radical Self-Publishing, Group Show (2020).{{Cite web|url=https://www.antenna.works/the-fine-art-of-radical-self-publishing-2/|title = The Fine Art of Radical Self-Publishing – Antenna.Works}}
- Queer Comics Saves Lives, Solo Art Exhibition (2020).{{Cite web|url=http://sfbaytimes.com/sister-dana-sez-now-new-month-since-new-years-resolutions-many-resolutions-already-broken/|title=Sister Dana Sez, "So now that we're in a new month since New Year's resolutions, how many of those resolutions have we already broken?!"|date=January 29, 2020}}
- We are more: Stories by Queer Artists, Group Art Exhibition (2019).{{Cite web|url=https://calhum.org/event/we-are-more-open-hours-3-2/|title=OAKLAND―We Are More: Stories by Queer Comic Artists|website=California Humanities}}
Film scores
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Notes / Accolades |
|---|
| 2016
! When Noise Met Sound: Apocalyptica | First film score |
Discography
- A Nomad Story (2014)
- Eclectic Frequencies (2014){{Cite web|url=https://afropunk.com/2014/03/new-music-lawrence-lindells-eclectic-frequencies-is-the-bold-new-record-experimental-electronica-has-been-waiting-for-soundcheck/|title=NEW MUSIC: Lawrence Lindell's 'Eclectic Frequencies' is the bold new record experimental electronica has been waiting for. #SoundCheck|date=March 19, 2014|website=AFROPUNK}}
- Magic Megaphone (2015){{Cite web|url=https://afropunk.com/2015/02/afropunk-premiere-stream-experimental-electronica-artist-lawrence-lindells-new-album-magic-megaphone-soundcheck/|title=AFROPUNK PREMIERE: Stream Experimental Electronica Artist Lawrence Lindell's new album 'Magic Megaphone' #SoundCheck|date=February 4, 2015|website=AFROPUNK}}
- Cinema of Soul(2015){{Cite web|url=https://afropunk.com/2015/05/new-music-stream-cinema-of-soul-the-newest-from-experimental-producer-lawrence-lindell-soundcheck/|title=NEW MUSIC: Stream 'Cinema of Soul,' the Newest From Experimental Producer Lawrence Lindell #SoundCheck|date=May 12, 2015|website=AFROPUNK}}
- Lawrence Lindell (2015)
- Raw Imperfections (2016)
- Life of Color (2017)
- Afrospacetable (2019)
Filmography
Honors
2024
Excellence in Graphic Literature: Best in Young Adult Graphic Literature (Blackward){{cite web | url=https://popcultureclassroom.org/2024/06/04/excellence-in-graphic-literature-awards-2024/ | title=Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards Finalists and Category Winners Announced | date=4 June 2024 }}
Excellence in Graphic Literature: Book of the Year Finalists (Blackward)
CBC Teacher Favourites / CBC Librarian Favourites (Blackward)
https://www.cbcbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Favorites2024_Librarian9-12.pdf
CBC Young Adult Favourites (Blackward)https://www.cbcbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Favorites2024_YoungAdult.pdf
2023
Kirkus Starred Review (Blackward){{Cite magazine |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lawrence-lindell/blackward/ |title=Blackward |magazine=Kirkus Reviews |language=en}}
2021
The Believer Book Awards: Editors’ Long Lists- Graphic Narrative Finalist (From Truth With Truth){{cite web | url=https://www.thebeliever.net/the-believer-book-award/ | title=The Believer Book Awards }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindell, Lawrence}}
Category:Alternative cartoonists
Category:American comics writers
Category:Artists from California
Category:Educators from California
Category:American LGBTQ artists
Category:LGBTQ comics creators
Category:Otis College of Art and Design alumni
Category:People with bipolar disorder
Category:Non-binary comics writers