Zig Zag: A Visual Bridge Between Italy and the USA is set to launch

NO RESERVATION REQUIRED – JUST COME AND ENJOY THE EVENTS!

JUNE 8–12, 2026 ZIG ZAG FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK
A program of events about illustration and comics in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Illustration is a field through which Italy and New York have engaged with an ongoing and vital exchange of ideas, projects, and relationships among artists, bringing together related, yet distinct, visual imagery and imaginations. From this common ground, the idea of offering a glimpse into the panorama of Italian illustration in New York was born, fostering a fertile encounter between two cultures at that very crossroads that has welcomed great Italian artists at different times, from Fortunato Depero to Massimo Vignelli, from Leo Lionni to Emiliano Ponzi.

From June 8 to 12, 2026, Bologna Children’s Book Fair will be in New York for the debut edition of Zig Zag: a visual bridge between Italy and the United States, a festival dedicated to illustration, exchange, and experimentation in visual storytelling between the two countries.

The festival is organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York. The curatorship is by Steven Guarnaccia, an award-winning American illustrator and designer whose long creative relationship with Italy includes working with leading publishing and cultural institutions; Hamelin, one of Italy’s most important cultural associations dedicated to children’s literature, comics, and illustration for over twenty years; and Bologna Children’s Book Fair. The initiative aims to promote meaningful cultural exchange and offer new perspectives on contemporary visual storytelling.

Zig Zag will highlight the richness of contemporary Italian illustration through a program of talks, conversations, and events taking place at some of the key locations in New York dedicated to illustration and visual culture.

This year’s guests include: Mac Barnett, Debbie Bibo, Nicholas Blechman, Marianna Coppo, Kirsten Hall, Emiliano Ponzi, Cecilia Ruiz, Felicita Sala, and Olimpia Zagnoli.

In addition to the Institute’s central role, the festival relies on a rich network of partners who, in the New York area, including strongholds of Italian culture such as the Rizzoli Bookstore, an Italian salon and historic Italian bookshop on Broadway, Sullaluna NYC, a bistro-bookshop dedicated to illustrated books from Italy and the US, and Salotto – Casa IED, a center for research and cultural output in graphics and illustration, managed by Italian creative professionals based in New York and institutions promoting the culture of illustration, such as  the Society of Illustrators, a sanctuary of American illustration and the oldest and most important institution dedicated to illustration; SVA School of Visual Arts, which trains young talent through its MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program.

Organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York
Curated by Hamelin, Steven Guarnaccia
in collaboration with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair

PROGRAM

Monday, June 8th

Italian Cultural Institute

6:00 p.m

Festival opening with all the protagonists and inauguration of the exhibition

250 Years of Friendship. A Visual Bridge Between Italy and the USA

Institutional opening with Claudio Pagliara, director of the Italian Cultural Institute

250 years of friendship between Italy and the United States are told through the eyes of Italian and American authors (Mac Barnett, Marianna Coppo, Felicita Sala, Riccardo Vecchio, and Olimpia Zagnoli) who will discuss, beginning with images they consider emblematic of the relationship between Italy and the USA, the dynamic relationship and ongoing exchange between the two countries. Moderated by Ilaria Tontardini, Hamelin.

A game d’auteur preceded by an introduction by Steven Guarnaccia and a historical overview by Leonard Marcus.

Cocktail reception to follow.

Tuesday, June 9th

Society of Illustrators

6:00 p.m

Picture Books in Transition. A Decade of Creative Evolution Between North America and Italy

Keynote video message by Claudio Pagliara, director of the Italian Cultural Institute

with Elena Pasoli (Bologna Children’s Book Fair), Debbie Bibo (Debbie Bibo Agency), Kirsten Hall (Catbird Agency), Tara Walker (Tundra Books), and Giulia Rizzo (Terre di Mezzo).

Moderated by Maria Russo.

Wednesday, June 10th

Rizzoli

In collaboration with SVA

6:00 p.m.

Visual Storytelling in Picture Books

Keynote video message by Claudio Pagliara, director of the Italian Cultural Institute

with Felicita Sala and Mac Barnett

Moderated by Ilaria Tontardini, Hamelin

Followed by a presentation of “The Secret Door / Make Believe” with Mac Barnett, Giulia Rizzo (Terre di Mezzo), Sally Kim (Little Brown and Company), and a book signing.

In honor of of ZIG ZAG Color me Italian – Window Art by Alison Spring, promoted by Rizzoli NYC and the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program at the School of Visual Arts.

Thursday, June 11th

SALOTTO – CASA IED

6:00 p.m

Beyond the Page: Others forms of Illustration

Keynote video message by Claudio Pagliara, director of the Italian Cultural Institute

Olimpia Zagnoli and Emiliano Ponzi

Moderated by Nicholas Blechman (The New Yorker)

Introduced by Emilio Varrà, Hamelin.

Friday, June 12th

Location: SULLALUNA

6:30 p.m.

Pictures with Wings

Introduced by Claudio Pagliara, director of the Italian Cultural Institute

with Marianna Coppo and Cecilia Ruiz

Moderated by Steven Guarnaccia.
Program of events on illustration and comics for the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States

Promoted by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York

Curated by Hamelin, Steven Guarnaccia

in collaboration with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair

At SULLALUNA we’ll also be hosting two special side events

Friday, June 12 — 5:30 PM

LAVINIA’S WONDROUS PORTRAITS

Emanuele Lugli in conversation with Ilaria Tontardini

Saturday, June 13 — 4:00 PM

FELICITA SALA

Book Signing