Facing Feelings: The Art of Raina Telgemeier
Exploring the career of one of the most influential graphic novelists of the past two decades. Featuring original artwork from Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts, as well as her early unpublished work, the exhibition highlights Telgemeier’s expressive cartooning and emotionally rich storytelling.
Available to book.
About the Exhibit
Facing Feelings: The Art of Raina Telgemeier explores the career of one of the most influential graphic novelists of the past two decades. Featuring original artwork from Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts, as well as her early unpublished work, the exhibition highlights Telgemeier’s expressive cartooning and emotionally rich storytelling.
At its core, Facing Feelings is about emotions—the joys, challenges, and struggles of growing up. Telgemeier’s relatable characters and accessible style have made her books beloved by readers of all ages. Through impeccable pacing and expressive art, she brings personal and universal experiences to life, showing how feelings shape our relationships and sense of self. As comics theorist Scott McCloud notes, “In a Telgemeier comic, emotion is action.”
The exhibition also showcases the artists who influenced Telgemeier’s development, including Bill Watterson, Charles Schulz, Lynda Barry, Keiji Nakazawa, Robb Armstrong, and Jeff Smith—cartoonists known for conveying deep emotions through deceptively simple imagery.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to comics, Facing Feelings offers an engaging introduction to the power of graphic novels. It invites visitors to see how images and words combine to create stories that resonate across generations.
Facing Feelings: The Art of Raina Telgemeier was curated by Anne Drozd and organized by the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at The Ohio State University.
Exhibit Details
Facing Feelings: is available starting in 2026.
- A total of 290 works of art, objects, and ephemera including:
- 230 framed Telgemeier originals.
- 15 framed original cartoons that inspired Telgemeier.
- The artist’s tools, illustrated objects, and ephemera.
- Exhibition text and labels provided digitally.
- Color wall decals provided digitally.
- In-gallery educational activities and interactive display
- Marketing Packet
- With suggested press release, digital images.
- Registrars Packet
- Final checklist, digital condition reports, packing list & instructions, and installation guide.
Please contact for more information.
- Travels in crates.
- Exhibitor responsible for shipping costs.
- Rental Period: 3 months (negotiable).
- Recommended Size: 2,500-5,000 square feet (about 275 running feet of artwork).
- Insurance coverage required.
- AAM Facilities report required.
- Security: High.
- Call: 614-292-0538
- Email: cartoonexhibits@osu.edu
Facing Feelings: Inside The World of Raina Telgemeier
Published by Scholastic, this beautiful companion book features an in-depth interview with Telgemeier and is available October 2025.
Facing Feelings: Inside The World of Raina Telgemeier
Published by Scholastic, this beautiful companion to the exhibition features a forward by Scott McCloud, and an in-depth interview with Telgemeier.