About Me

Hey there, I'm Rachel Lea! I’m a comic artist and illustrator based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. My work is largely autobiographical, as I use short form comics to process my history with high-demand religion and undiagnosed mental illness.

My formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in visual narrative, with coursework in film studies, studio art, animation, and graphic design, as well as a minor in bible studies. In 2024 I was a recipient of the Comic Advocacy Group’s first annual mini grant for comic creators.

I strive to approach the world with curiosity and compassion, and my artmaking is steeped in memory and identity, and commonly presents with both irreverent humor and deep feeling. Primarily in either black and white or shades of gray, my art carries elements of surrealism and horror, with common motifs including supernatural creatures and religious iconography. Much of my inspiration comes from fairy tales and mythology, horror movies, Jungian psychology, Internal Family Systems therapy, current events, and animation. All my work is hand drawn with my iPad and Apple Pencil, and I regularly experiment with texture, contrast, and negative space

When I’m not making art, you might find me dancing with friends, leash-training my cats, or out exploring my beautiful home state with my partner—though honestly, you’re equally likely to find me hiding inside reading fanfiction and laughing at tumblr nonsense.