• We bid farewell to the HRC administrative coordinator
• Upcoming HRC Events: Graduate Mini-Symposium and Open House
• Faculty Spotlight: Bizhan Khodabandeh, assistant professor of advertising
• Visit our multimedia page to watch recordings of past HRC events
• Community Learning Opportunities: Humanities Events Around Richmond

While in high school, his interest in design and illustration was sparked by skateboarding, drawing graffiti and reading comics. Years later, the work of Bizhan Khodabandeh, assistant professor in the VCU Robertson School, was driven by other influences:  images of children killed by the US bombing in Afghanistan, and the rise in bigotry towards middle-eastern people. As a result, Bizhan’s work is often socio-political, and he works primarily with non-profit and cultural institutions. Bizhan tells about his work, his perspective and his process.

Many of them were influenced by Modernism, Russian Constructivism, Deconstructivism, and Swiss design.

Now I'm more inspired by creatives that I've personally met. The sharing of ideas and work really drives me to work harder as well as encourages me to pursue new approaches.

What are some of your well-known projects?

“The Little Red Fish” graphic novel was recognized twice by the Society of Illustrators. I interviewed members of leftist guerrilla groups and student organizers that helped overthrow the Shah of Iran during the 1979 revolution. I also read historical texts about events leading up to, during, and shortly after the revolution. This project was a collaboration with the writer, James Moffitt, who also did research on it. We certainly co-created this Orwellian retelling of The Iranian Revolution in the spirit of Animal Farm.

Tell more about the intersection of your activism and your illustration/design work.

While I feel like I could be doing more these days, many groups I’ve designed for are doing good work. The groups I've worked with include: The Legal Aid Justice Center, The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Vegan Action, Food Not Bombs, Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, and Happily Natural Day. I’ve also made political commentary work that’s been exhibited nationally and internationally.

I recently sold prints of an illustration depicting the Robert E. Lee Monument after it was transformed by protests to raise over $3,500 for the Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project.

The graphic novel has been praised by several rock stars in the comic world who have influenced my work:   

• Nate Powell -- “A fearless, brutal account of American history filtered through one town’s relationship to immigration, identity, and ‘othering.’ The Day the Klan Came to Town lays history bare, making centuries-long connections to today. Vital.”

• Thi Bui -- “A piece of American history in all its ugliness told as an astonishing coming together of misfits to stand up against a common threat. Bill brings an international scope to the history and a concise understanding of politics to the story. Bizhan’s art is dazzling. This is a book for our times.”

• Damian Duffy -- “The creative team brings you into a past where the construction of whiteness was contested, cross-cultural alliances kept the US growing, and the people on the ground reminded those in power that fascism was an unwelcome plague that every real American will stand and fight.”

Did you miss the HRC's latest speaker series or Meet VCU's Authors event?

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