cupcake award
Self-publishing is at the heart of the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo festival and community, and supporting emerging artists and helping them grow is central to our mission. The annual Cupcake Award is a juried prize that supports the publication of a new minicomic by an emerging artist whose work is primarily self-published.
Thanks to a grant from the Awesome Foundation, we were able to offer two Cupcake Awards for 2026 - just in time for our 10th award cycle! Thank you to the Awesome Foundation for their support of and enthusiasm for the Chicago creative community.
2026 Cupcake Winners & Mentors
Winner: Jesus Blanco
Jesus Blanco (he/him) has decided to stay in Dekalb, IL for the time being. He likes to make neurotic comics about his fading, diasporic Mexican community nestled in the rural Midwest, but more importantly, he wants to make you laugh.
Follow Jesus:
@samerowisleader on Instagram
@issamerow on Bluesky
jesusblancoillustration.carrd.co
Mentored by: Liz Sux
Liz Sux (they/she) is living in Providence, Rhode Island with a tailless cat named Leopold. Their work explores experiences with grief and relationships all while trying to find meaning for themselves and then outwardly share it with people like you.
Follow Liz:
@liz_sux on Instagram
@lizsux on Substack
lizsux.com/
Winner: Nasa Espinoza
Nasa Espinoza (they/them) is a cartoonist and printmaker, with a Texan soul that made their way into Chicago. They spend their time making comics that explore the quiet aspects of life, and mixing the right shade of pink.
Follow Nasa:
@nostalgicnasa on Instagram
espinnasa.com
Mentored by: Maddie Dennis
Maddie Dennis (she/her) is an animator, cartoonist, and teacher from Rhode Island!
Follow Maddie:
@daddiemennis on Instagram
maddiedennis.com
2026 Honorable Mentions
Alesha Williams, Alexandra Gallant-Lee, Anna Strzepek, Cam Collins, Cesario "Cee" Lavery, Kit Montgomery, melonfarm, Nicole Rodrigues, Sadie Levine, Sidne K. Gard, STEIN
AWARD HISTORY
The Cupcake award has been awarded annually at each in-person CAKE expo since 2015.
Mentor
Winner
Annie Koyama
John Porcellino
Caitlin McGuirk
Edie Fake
Marnie Galloway
Tyrell Cannon
Isabella Rotman
Jim Terry
Zach Clemente
Kat Fajardo
Pidge
2015 - Sara Drake
2016 - Goda Trakumaite
2017 - Kelly Fernandez
2018 - Adam Griffiths
2019 - Diana Chu
2020 - Joi Yao
2021 - AnneMarie Rogers
2022 - Bread Tarleton
2023/24 - Natalie 麥月明
2023/24 - Eli Estrella Perez
2025 - Mili St. John