KATARINA THORSEN
Graphic Novels | Archival Research | Visual Storytelling
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CONTACT: katarina@katthorsen.com
INSTAGRAM:@poststreet
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BIO
I am a Canadian-Swedish graphic novelist, visual artist, and archival researcher. My work explores memory and history that emerge from both public and personal archives. I am fascinated by the ways research and visual storytelling work together to document the past and create new ways of seeing it.
Born in Sweden, I am deeply grateful to live, work, and play on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
My debut graphic novel, Salt Green Death (Conundrum Press, 2025), was the result of twenty-one years of archival research. A work of creative nonfiction, it was recognized by the New York Public Library as one of the 50 Best New Comics and Graphic Novels for Adults of 2025 and was shortlisted for the 2026 Doug Wright Award. The project began with Joseph (2022), a limited-edition broadsheet that served as the book’s prologue.
My second graphic novel, Full Bleed (Conundrum Press, forthcoming 2027), is a collaborative adaptation of a short story by Sea Conlin from the collection Watermark. While distinct from my archival nonfiction practice, the project has expanded my understanding of visual narrative, adaptation, and long-form storytelling.
My current body of work continues to investigate archives as living spaces of inquiry. Occupation: The Long Shadow explores the legacy of the Second World War on family history through archival research and transects with a collaboration with anthropologist Emma Varley (Haunted Labour). Potato Nose Diaries draws on hundreds of my personal journals to create a long-form series of graphic memoirs, beginning with Potato Nose Diaries: 1977. I am interested in how comics can reveal the emotional and historical layers hidden within archives, diaries, letters, and photographs as well as dreams and hauntings.
Alongside my visual storytelling practice, I have spent more than three decades facilitating creative engagement projects that use art as a catalyst for dialogue, vision building, and group connection. I have collaborated with schools, health authorities, restorative justice organizations, community programs, and custody centres, developing creative processes that encourage curiosity, participation, and whole-brain thinking. My interactive public art and craftivism projects invite people to become active participants in the creative process.
My work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the British Columbia Arts Council, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the Vancouver Heritage Foundation. I have been a featured guest at the Stockholm International Comic Festival and the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, and my artwork is held in private collections in North America and Europe.
PUBLICATIONS
Drawn Together – Maintaining Connections and Navigating Life’s Challenges with Art, 2013 (Book)
Joseph, The Prologue, 2022 (Limited Edition Broadsheet)
Salt Green Death, Conundrum Press, 2025 (Graphic Novel)
Full Bleed, Conundrum Press, 2027 (Graphic Novel)
Projects currently in development:
Occupation: The Long Shadow, an archival graphic novel project centred on WWII. This exploration includes a deeper research and inquiry project with anthropologist, Emma Varley.
Potato Nose Diaries Archive Project: a creative non-fiction archival series based on my hundreds of personal journals. Potato Nose Diaries: 1977, a graphic novel, will be the first in the series.
AWARDS AND GRANTS
City of North Vancouver Civic Youth Award – Outstanding Supporter of Youth, 2010
Women of Worth- Humanitarian of the Year, 2014
Yosef Wosk Publication Fund at Vancouver Heritage Foundation, 2021 (Joseph, the Prologue)
British Columbia Arts Council Individual Arts Award – Creative Writers, 2023 (Salt Green Death)
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Residency Scholarship, 2023
Canada Council for the Arts Explore and Create: Research and Creation, Literature, 2024 (Full Bleed)
Canada Council for the Arts: Artistic Creation, 2026 (Occupation: The Long Shadow)
Canada Council for the Arts: Artistic Creation, 2026 (Potato Nose Diaries: 1977)
RESIDENCIES
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity – Graphic Novels and Visual Narrative, Spring 2023
FESTIVALS (FEATURED GUEST)
Stockholm International Comic Festival (SIS25), May 2025
Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF 2025), June 2025
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Creative Engagement Facilitation & Graphic Recording
I partner with school districts, educational institutions, youth programs, restorative justice initiatives, municipalities, health authorities, and community organizations across British Columbia.
School Districts
Burnaby • Cariboo-Chilcotin • Coquitlam • Mission • North Vancouver • Sunshine Coast • Vancouver • Vancouver Island
Schools & Post-Secondary
Elementary
Bayview Community School
Edward S. Richards Elementary
École Rochester Elementary
Lord Strathcona Elementary
Roberts Creek Elementary
Strathcona Elementary
Middle
École Maillard Middle
École Montgomery Middle
Fraser River Middle
Hillcrest Middle
Kwayhquitlum Middle
L’École Moody Middle School of the Arts
Minnekhada Middle
Secondary
Alpha Secondary
Byrne Creek Secondary
Elphinstone Secondary
Keith Lynn Alternative Secondary
Lake City Secondary
Mountainside Secondary
Riverside Secondary
Alternative & Specialized
SelfDesign Home Schooling
Small Talk Preschool for Language Disorders
West Point Grey Academy
Post-Secondary
Rhodes Wellness College
Simon Fraser University
Stenberg College
University of British Columbia
Youth & Community Programs
Burnaby Neighbourhood House
Burnaby Youth Custody Centre
Canucks Autism Network
Drive Youth Employment Services
Frames Film Project
HELP Street Youth
Hollyburn Family Services
Intensive Youth Outreach Services
Pacific Community Resources Society
Passion to Lead
Strathcona Community Centre
The Foundry
YouthCO
Restorative Justice & Social Impact
Centre for Restorative Justice
Circles of Support and Accountability
North Shore Restorative Justice Society
Prison Arts
Punky Lake Wilderness Society
Shaking the Movers
Municipal, Health & Community Organizations
Municipal
City of Surrey
City of Vancouver
Health & Care
Bayshore Home Health Care
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
Evergreen Extended Care
Fraser Health
Hawthorne Memory Care
Leisure Care Canada
Pacific Arbour Retirement Communities
Providence Health Care
Tapestry Retirement Living
Vancouver Coastal Health
Vancouver Island Health Authority
Community & Corporate
Beauty Night Society
Bean Around Books
Concert Properties
DIVERSEcity
Friends for Life
NGU Consultants
Operation Sock Monkey
Solid State Community Industries
Spruce Harbour Marina
Studio20
Studio23
Tri-Cities Overdose Community Action Team
viaSPORT
Hejsan Katarina!
Härligt att se att du är aktiv inom konstformen!
Nu när OS startat så råkade jag se Anders med sin fru och sökte på dig och fann denna site. Jag blev så glad av att hitta spår av dig! Hör av dig så vi får uppdatera varandra.
Kram Maj-Lis 🙂
Hej gumman,
Tänker så ofta på dig men kom på igår att jag måste söka dig på nätet och det är klart att du var lätt att hitta. Hur mår ni? Bor ni kvar i Seachelt? (stavning???)
Tänkte på dig lite för att din dotter ju fyllde igår med mig och att jag vill gratta henne även om hon säkert inte minns mig. Sen har vi ju dina tavlor uppe och får ofta komplimanger och frågor….
Kul att du jobbar med barn med annorlunda talanger. Jag läste till specialpedagog för några år sedan och jobbar också med elever med adhd, dyslexi etc. Underbart. Jag har verkligen hittat det jag vill göra.
Vore så kul att höra lite från dig. Jag finns på facebook men hittade inte dig…
Jättekram och många tankar
Maria
Hi, nice to meet you !
Your work with teenagers should be the lead story of every newspaper! I am a Recreation Therapist on a Level IV prison located in Los Angeles County and a lot of these guys could have warded off the boredom and anger of being a teenager by making art,
Thank you for changing lives-
you are an inspiration!
Wow! You made my day! I would love to write a blog post about what you do and share some photos of the art! Have a great day and please let me know if you’d like to share! Katarina
Katarina! Your art STILL inspires me. I remember as a kid staring up at your pieces, not quite understanding and yet being blown away by their power. The painting of the woman having just given birth will always be my favourite. I am so glad to see you are still up to it and using your gift to help others.
You’re very talented, Katarina. Look forward to more.
Millie
Kat, love the sock puppet therapy. I have a “craftavist” in my house and she’s nine. I am currently sitting on what I think is fantastic first installment to a graphic novel script and am trying to find someone who sees my vision for the art. Any ideas? I love your art and sketches and what you’ve put together for “Molly”. Just a Canadian, in Kansas, doin’ my PTA thing and writing stories…
Brandi- would love to hear more about your graphic novel idea! Are you looking for an artist? I’m sure there are some incredible artists out there hungry to offer their services! Say hello to your CRAFTAVIST! Much love Katarina
http://www.facebook.com/RozasArt
like my page please, im a 16 year old artist trying to get known 🙂
Thank you so much Katarina for sharing your time, talent and resources with us (THRD1117) at Stenberg today. Wish your stay could have been longer than half a day. I personally was very inspired by your works, past and present, and would like to follow your footsteps in changing lives! More power to you and regards. – Andrea-
Thank you Andrea for an amazing morning! 💕 best of luck with your career! Keep in touch! 💕
I have a original Joe Average painting from 1987 that might make you laugh, not many people have ever seen it. I would be happy to email you a picture.
I also have this outstanding giant schnauzer pup that would like to nibble on your charcoal.
Hi
Laurie Ebenal from Hillcrest Middle has recommended your name as someone who could assist us in developing a school vision. I look forward to talking with you to explore this possibility. I am the Principal of Ecole Montgomery Middle.