Anna Sellheim

About the Artist

I’m Anna Sellheim, a cartoonist, artist, and educator based in Baltimore, MD. I earned my MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies in 2016. My work primarily explores themes of health, trauma, and the healing power of art. My comics have been published by The Nib, Oni Press, and Seven Days (Vermont’s Alternative Weekly Newspaper). I’ve also contributed to several anthologies, including the Eisner-nominated Comics for Choice, which raised over $30,000 for the National Network of Abortion Funds. My fine art and comics have been exhibited across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. As an educator, I’ve had the privilege of teaching students of all ages—from 4 to 77—through group classes and private tutoring throughout the East Coast. In 2025, I completed a Community Arts Collaborative Artist Residency at the Refugee Youth Project (RYP), where I used comics as a way to guide my students in developing their own healing art practices. At the same time, comics became a tool for them to share their stories and strengthen their English skills. A highlight of this residency was the creation of the RYP Zine, an award-winning student anthology that raised over $2,000 for the program through its first print run. I also had the honor of guest curating Infinite Possibilities: Art & Hope, a collaborative exhibition between Creative Alliance and RYP students, which ran from May to July 2025.

Artist's Statement

For over a decade, my work has explored my mental health, and as my physical disabilities have worsened, it has increasingly examined my relationship with my body. I navigate rapid-cycling bipolar disorder and brittle bone disease, and art has become a vital form of self-care—helping me process these experiences and connect with supportive communities. This culminated in my 159-page graphic novel Brittle, which explores the intersection of my bone disease, mental health, and lifelong struggle to connect with others, and documents the development of a healing artistic practice. My practice is rooted in accessibility and directness. I have seen how creative expression builds community and amplifies underrepresented voices. My work has appeared in the Comics for Choice Anthology, which raised over $30,000 for the National Network Abortion Fund. By addressing stigmatized topics such as abortion, loneliness, bullying, and mental health with clarity and bluntness, my work invites connection and conversation, leading to professional collaborations with organizations including the Refugee Youth Project (RYP), Solrad, and Pyramid Atlantic. I was the Community Art Collaborative (CAC) Artist In Residence at RYP for the past three years, where I taught art and comics to refugee youth ages 5–21 across Baltimore City. My teaching prioritized creating safe, healing spaces and helping students develop their unique creative voices rather than focusing on technical skill. In 2024, I received a MICA Community Engagement Grant to produce the award-winning RYP Zine, a 28-page, full-color anthology created with refugee students at Patterson High School. The project allowed students to reclaim their narratives, and proceeds from the zine support program essentials such as food, clothing, and supplies. I am currently a teaching artist working in the Baltimore area. In addition to one-off workshops, I am a contracted teaching artist with the Enoch Pratt Free Library system in Baltimore and the Sequential Artists Workshop, where I teach art comics and art workshops for a wide range of community members, focusing on using storytelling to connect with others and share personal experiences.