Inaugural ICON Festival Kicks Off This Weekend In Los Angeles
by Tom Smithyman
Comic book art heavy hitters, including Nick Dragotta, Daniel Warren Johnson, Frank Cho, and Bill Sienkiewicz are descending on Los Angeles this weekend for the inaugural ICON Festival of Comic & Narrative Art.
The conference — which will be held Saturday and Sunday just after a VIP reception Friday evening in the Biltmore Hotel — isn’t your typical comic con though. Don’t expect cosplayers or lots of vendors or even writers. ICON, like its sister shows in Lake Como and the Hawaiian Islands, is all about comic art.
Highlights include a roster of thirty artists, including Jim Cheung, David Mack, Dustin Nguyen, Sanford Greene, Ryan Ottley, and Cat Staggs. Attendees will also be able to view a special exhibit of over 100 Alex Ross’ Marvel and DC character paintings, including Moon Knight, Harley Quinn, and Hawkeye.
All attendees are invited to several panels, including Dragotta and Johnson discussing Absolute Batman and show cofounder Steve Morger advising art enthusiasts on estate planning for their collection.
VIPs can attend a special reception Friday night, where they can rub shoulders with some of the industry’s biggest names. Saturday evening, Sienkiewicz will be joined by actor and creator Thomas Jane and collector and novelist Glen David Gold to discuss the world of art collecting.
Tickets for the con are not for the faint of heart. A weekend pass is $225 while VIP designation will set you back $375. Fans attending only on Sunday will pay $75. Weekend attendees receive a poster and a swag bag, while VIPs also receive a lithograph signed by Ross.
While attendees won’t find normal con vendors hawking T-shirts and stickers, several auction houses and smaller publishers will set up shop alongside the artists.
“This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet some of the most talented comic book artists working today while experiencing the grandeur of one of the most prestigious spaces in Los Angeles,” Morger said. “You can explore the storied hotel, talk with creators about their craft, commission art, and purchase rare, original pieces.”
Comicon.com will be at the show all weekend and update you with all the happenings in the City of Angels.
