TODAY · All day
Revolutions and Constitutions: Nation-Building in the Americas after 1776
Benson Latin American Collection
TODAY · 9:00am
Comics and Zines: Staff Picks from the Benson Collection
Thursday, October 29 at Benson Latin American Collection, Austin
About this event
Comics & Zines: Staff Picks from the Benson Collection, on view from July 21, 2026 to March 12, 2027, explores Latin American and U.S. Latinx visual culture through the unique perspectives of the Benson staff who build, process, and care for these archives. The display shows how creators combine the structure of comics with the independent nature of handcrafted zines. Visitors will see how artists use these accessible print formats to bypass censorship, question mainstream media, and address political and social issues. By highlighting these graphic narratives, the exhibition showcases the incredible breadth of the Benson Latin American Collection, providing a direct look into the social movements that shape Latin America and Latino communities in the United States. Location: Sid Richardson Hall, Unit 1 Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, Second Floor Gallery Space 2300 Red River St. Austin, Texas 78712
What to expect
A gallery display in the Benson's second-floor exhibition space in Sid Richardson Hall. It shows how creators pair the structure of comics with the do-it-yourself spirit of zines. The pieces show how artists use these cheap, accessible print formats to get around censorship, question mainstream media and take on political and social issues. It is a quiet, self-paced look, set inside a working research library.
Why go
The picks come from the staff who handle these materials every day, so the selection reflects what they know and value. The Benson is one of the largest university collections of Latin American materials in the country. The show gives a direct look at the social movements behind Latin America and Latino communities in the U.S. It is a good way to see part of that collection without a research appointment.
Where
Benson Latin American Collection · 2300 Red River Street · Austin TXDirections
