Mónica Weiss


Mónica Weiss is an Argentine illustrator, artist, writer and architect. She has illustrated more than 140 books and has actively worked for the rights of illustrators and to show the importance of illustration in Argentina.
WWW monicaweiss.com

Early life and education

Mónica Weiss was born in Adrogué, province of Buenos Aires. Since she was 5 years old she studied painting and engraving with Nelia Licenziato and piano with Susana Agrest and classical dance with Marta de Lourenço. She studied architecture at Buenos Aires University and graduated in 1982. She remained at the university as a Design teacher in the same career. She worked as an architect for twelve years until she was asked to illustrate which would be her first editorial work Historieta de amor by writer Graciela Cabal for the Editorial Sudamericana.

Work

Her work in the illustration field includes the illustration of children books, curating art exhibitions, teaching and giving lectures and presentations in Book Fairs. As an illustrator she has over 140 picture books published.
She was a guest artist of the National Reading Plan and she was director of the Foro de Ilustradores Argentinos, an association promoting the work of Argentine illustrators, from 1998 to 2005.
She was Vice President of Asociación de Literatura Infantil y Juvenil de Argentina '.
She was a member of the Organisation Commission of the Buenos Aires Children's Book Fair and has participated in the radio program 'El frasco sin tapa' about illustrated books, in FM Palermo. She has published articles about illustration in international specialised magazines such as La mancha, Nuevas Hojas de Lectura ''Cultura LIJ and Catalejos. In 2018 she published the Master Class "Illustrate for children, young people, adults?" at the request of the OEI- Organisation of Ibero-American States.
From 2001 she teaches Picture Book illustration in 'Taller m in Buenos Aires where she has guided many internationally recognised illustrators through their creative processes.
She is a consultant for the International Illustration Museum Campus Culturae USC of Santiago de Compostela University, Spain.

Books

Mónica Weiss has worked with recognised writers such as,,, Isabel Freire de Matos, María Cristina Ramos and. Some of her published books are:Vacaciones de dinosaurio Todo el mundo volverá. by Ricardo Chávez Castañeda. Navidad blanca Hugo tiene hambre. Así se baila el tango. Quién está detrás de esa casa? El sastrecillo valiente '''Brave little tailor' by Grimm brothers, adapted by Silvia Schujer.La fábrica de cristal Pascualita Gómez La calle es mía Tres de amor La casita azul Un perro llamado cual Próspero, Collection ' los veinte escalones' 39 books illustrated. Ed Comunicarte. Argentina. Cumpleaños de dinosaurio. Leyendas argentinas, by Graciela Repún.Historieta de amor by Graciela Cabal'Colección Lola' Jacinto by Graciela Cabal.Del amor nacen los ríos by María Cristina Ramos.Abriendo Las Ventanitas by Carlos Gianni, Hugo Midon and Mónica Weiss.El Pueblo de Mala Muerte written by Sandra Comino.Azul la Cordillera written by Maria Cristina Ramos.


Exhibitions

Art Curator

Exhibitions in Argentina:
  • 'Aguafuertes Porteñas de Roberto Arlt' for BACML/UNESCO. Group exhibition. 250 illustrators. Buenos Aires, 2012
  • Exhibitions for AMIA at the Centro Cultural Recoleta; “Sin Palabras. Memoria Ilustrada 2013” with 143 artists and "Afiches para no olvidar. Memoria Ilustrada 2013' with 19 illustrators. Buenos Aires, 2013.
  • Seven National Exhibitions of the Foro de Ilustradores at Centro Cultural Recoleta and International Book Fair of Buenos Aires. Also shown in Mar del Plata, Mendoza, Córdoba, Tucumán, Bariloche, Bahía Blanca.
  • La máquina del tiempo, Colectivo Calavera No Chilla. Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires.
Exhibitions abroad:

Conferences and other activities

  • Book Presentation and signing at Feria Internacional del libro de Buenos Aires, 2012.
  • “Atracción e inspiración. El libro álbum como promotor de la lectura”, organised by the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Latinoamericano.
  • II Congreso Internacional de Literatura para Niños.

Awards

  • IBBY List of Honour
  • White Ravens, 2008. Book selected as one of the 250 best books of the world.'Del amor nacen los ríos. Selected book by ALIJA, 1999.
  • 'Hugo tiene Hambre' Norma Fundalectura Latin American Picture Book First Prize
  • Banco del Libro de Essentials
  • Pregonero Award
  • Latinoamerican Hormiguita Viajera Prize