Welcome to the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators!
Welcome to the official website of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators (PSI), one of the largest non-profit groups of illustrators in the nation. The Society brings local illustrators together to facilitate artistic and professional growth, advocacy for artists’ rights, and the comradery and promotion of our collective Pittsburgh talent. With an enthusiastic volunteer base, PSI maintains a lively schedule of regular meetups and special events designed to educate, engage, and recognize working illustrators and students alike.
All PSI members and interested prospects and the public should click on the EVENTS icon above to stay informed on our busy calendar of events! New programs, presently being organized by our Board, will be announced once the dates are confirmed and will be available in persson and on zoom. Included in current planning stages are a presentation by a children's book illustrator in February, and a major presentation by syndicated comic star and award winner WAYNO in May. News on these programs are forthcoming very shortly!
Winter socials will resume second Tuesdays of the month at J. Gough's, 4213 Murray Avenue PGH PA 15217 in Squirrel Hill (January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, and May 13, 2025). Socials start at 6:30pm. Much discussion about the upcoming Heinz History Center exhibition 'My America: An Illustrated Experience' will occur at each social as well as other program planning. Appetizers are provided by PSI as individuals pay for their own beverages. READ MORE
Upcoming Events
2025 PSI program planning continues:
CONFIRMED: An in-person presentation by one of our most notable long-time members, WAYNO, artist for the syndicated Bizarro strip, on Thursday May 29 2025, at Kim Fox/Workerbird studio-this will be at her new studio location near the Liberty Tunnels--details to come. WAYNO has a lifetime of awards, artwork, comic strips, and personal influences to share that are valuable for every illustrator to take in. Cartoonists, as well as all PSI members, Full and Affiliate, mark your calendars NOW!
PLANNED: a Zoom presentation by kidlit star Rebecca Green organized by Laura Garvin. Watch for the announcement of the weblink for this presentation that will give all our members great ideas for expanding their own personal marketing and re-using already created images for multiple sales use! We are hoping this program can be scheduled for the late March, early April timeframe.
BREAKING NEWS:
MY AMERICA: An Illustrated Experience Exhibition News
JURYING IS SET FOR SATURDAY APRIL 12, 2025. Illustrators drop off work at 8am at the front 'knuckle' turn-around area to the right of the front entryway of the Heinz History Center 1212 Smallman Street PGH PA 15222. Work MUST include illustrator statement for each work, as well as having the $50 jury fee per member (for all your entries) paid in advance or upon drop-off. All work to be picked up at 4pm at the same location.
Any members desiring to assist with the check-in, art moving to the 5th floor, jury assists, artwork back to exit site, and handling all kinds of tasks during the day, please contact Kathy Rooney me@krooney.net
My America, an Illustrated Experience is a very exciting exhibition coming up for Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators at the Heinz History Center commemorating America’s 250th Semiquincentennial in 2026 and PSI’s 30th Anniversary. The exhibit will open in the Fall of 2025 and run for at least 14 months through 2026. Through individual illustrations created by PSI members, the exhibit will help public audiences reflect upon American ideals such as freedom, resilience, democracy, independence, equality, rights, liberty, opportunity, diversity, self-government, and justice. PSI will help Heinz History Center patrons appreciate how these ideals have been advanced throughout the course of American history. Relevant Items from the HHC collections will also be displayed next to some of the respective artworks.
