Announcing the 2024 CUPCAKE AWARD WINNERS!

Firstly, we’d like to thank everyone who applied to the CUPCAKE Award! Each year, it gets harder and harder to narrow down just one person between so many fantastically talented cartoonists. This year we were able to offer two cupcake awards and due to a generous donation we are upping the award amount from the usual $250 to $400 for each winner! We sincerely thank the lovely donor who made this possible!

THIS YEAR’S CUPCAKE AWARD WINNERS

Natalie 麥月明 (they/them) is Queer Chinese-Canadian artist of Toisan descent who works primarily with narratives. Their work is somewhere between a reflection of life and a little bit curious. Natalie loves going to their neighbourhood library, playing table top games, and making comics!

You can find Natalie’s work on tumblr, instagram, masto.art and bsky.social

Mentee to Zach Clemente of Bulgilhan Press

Eli Estrella Pérez (she/they) is a second-generation Cuban-American living in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago. Despite being a newcomer to comics, working in a creative field is very familiar to her; They have been a graphic designer and illustrator for over a decade. Currently, she is pitching her debut graphic novel, which nabbed 1st place at Kids Comics Unite’s 2023 Pitchfest.

You can find more of Eli’s work on her website.

Mentee of Kat Fajardo of Miss Quinces

THIS YEAR’S CUPCAKE MENTORS

Zachary Clemente (he/him) is the owner and boss for Bulgilhan Press, a small press comics publisher making new and self-indulgent comics by excellent artists with unique voices & visions. Through Bulgilhan he has published Stray by Molly Mendoza, Die Horny by Rebecca Mock, Far Distant by A Liang Chan, and more. He previously worked on the organizational committee for the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE) as their Outreach Co-DIrector but is now serving on the board for MICE's producing arts nonprofit organization, The Boston Comic Arts Foundation as its President.

Kat Fajardo (they/she) is an award-winning cartoonist and illustrator from the lively and magical place of Loisaida, New York City. Their recent book Miss Quinces, was the first Scholastic Graphix title to be published both in English and Spanish (as Srta. Quinces), earning them a place as a National Indie Bestseller and recipient of the Pura Belpre Honor for illustration. Kat's art is a vibrant reflection of self-acceptance, self-improvement, and Latine culture.