As with every ICON, we commission an illustrator to design our conference poster. For ICON13, we were lucky enough to have Andrew Haener, a Baltimore-based illustrator, at the helm. While supplies last, you can order your free ICON13 poster through January 31.

Andrew gives us some behind-the-scenes looks at his process, his studio space, and his favorite spots in Baltimore (spoiler: one of them happens to be the venue for our closing night party 👀)

ICON: Tell us about yourself!

Andrew: I’m an artist and political organizer from Southeast Texas, currently living in Baltimore with my long-time partner and our dog, Hamish. I do a lot of backyard vegetable gardening and I try to spend as much time as I can hiking and bikepacking, which is like mountain biking but with camping gear. I draw and paint when I can.

ICON: Could you give us some insight into your practice?

Andrew: I’ve spent the last few years after graduate school as an illustrator, where I’ve collaborated with all kinds of clients like The New York Times, McSweeney’s, and The Sphere in Las Vegas. I also taught illustration and design courses for a couple years at the Pennsylvania  College of Art, MICA, and at Towson University here in Maryland.

Most of my commercial work is created digitally using a big medley of Adobe software. In my personal practice though, I like to experiment as much as I can with different media. I’ve done everything from programming my own video games and interactive animations to quilting and wood working. The pieces which I’m most excited about generally champion the aspirations and concerns of ordinary working class folks, either through visual storytelling or the choice of media. I draw a lot of spiritual inspiration from funky self-taught artists and underground punk stuff. The more sincere, the better!

ICON: What is your studio space like?

Andrew: I share a room at home that I’m lucky enough to have attached to a nice little patio space upstairs. It’s mostly bookshelves filled with comics and art history books with a little Ikea folding desk where I like to sprawl out with all of my things. I’ve got an old Singer sewing machine and a refurbished scanner from the 2000s up there which are my prized possessions. It’s a little scrappy and nearly impossible to photograph well, but it’s cozy.

ICON: What's your favorite thing to do in Baltimore?

Andrew: I spend more time than I’d like to admit just walking around by the harbor and staring wistfully out at the water. Baltimore has a pretty extensive network of waterfront walkways and I like to take advantage as much as possible. Plus it connects to the Visionary Art Museum, which is one of my favorite spots to discover new artists.

There are also a lot of great craft breweries and indie bookstores around town, like Peabody Heights in Waverly and Atomic Books in Hampden. Big ups to those guys! When I can, I like to get out in the woods which is remarkably easy to do here. There’s tons and tons of hiking trails and parks within an hour or so of the city, which is where I am more often than not.

A Thumbnail View of ICON13:

• Volunteer Applications: Open now through February 28 for students and 2026 grads. Get a free ticket to ICON13 by volunteering.
• Roadshow Applications: Opening soon! Keep an eye on your inbox and socials.
• Tickets, Get Your Tickets!: Only 19 tickets left at our $550 discount level 💸
• Special Discounts: Are you and a buddy going to ICON13 together? Are you an educator? Live near Baltimore? If any of the above is true, we've got a discount for you :)

More news soon!

Love,
The ICON13 Crew