Liana Finck

Liana Finck, a prolific graphic artist and author, was born in 1986 in New York State. She developed a passion for drawing early on and pursued her interests academically, earning her BFA from Cooper Union College in 2008, with concentrations in fine art and graphic design. She further expanded her artistic horizon with a Fulbright Fellowship at Université de La Cambre in Brussels, Belgium.

Finck has created a niche for herself in the literary and art world, skillfully combining the written word and illustration to bring deeply introspective and socially conscious themes to life. Her debut work, »A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York« (2014), showcased her exceptional ability to intertwine imagery and narrative, reflecting on historical personal stories. Her major works include »Passing for Human« (2018), a graphic novel that thoughtfully addresses identity and acceptance, and her latest publication »Let There Be Light« (2022), a unique portrayal of the Book of Genesis featuring a female God. Her work is characterized by the empathetic exploration of complex themes and emotions, often leveraging a dialogue-rich narrative with cleverly integrated illustrations.

Described by The New Yorker as a »singular« talent, Finck’s style blends the boundary between reality and imagination, frequently incorporating personal experiences and social commentary. A critic from The Guardian praised »Passing for Human« as a »whimsically serious quest for self-understanding… punctuated with astute observations about what it means to be a woman.«

Finck’s work has garnered several accolades, including the Sarah Verdone Award in 2019, the National Jewish Book Award, and the Edward Lewis Wallant Award for »Let There Be Light« in 2023. Her fellowship at the American Academy in Berlin and the Guggenheim Fellowship for Nonfiction in 2023-2024 signify recognition of her contributions in the literary realm.

Aside from her literary work, she contributes regularly as a cartoonist to The New Yorker and created the TV show, »Excuse Me«, with Adult Swim in 2021.

The author lives in Brooklyn.

A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York

Ecco Press
New York, 2014

Passing for Human

Random House
New York, 2018

Excuse Me: Cartoons, Complaints, and Notes to Self

Random House
New York, 2019

Let There Be Light: The Book of Genesis with a Female God

Random House
New York, 2022

How to Baby: A Book of Cartoons on Parenting

Random House
New York, 2024