ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Cristina Portolano on Comics, Sexuality, and Francis Bacon Biography

artist · 2026-05-04

Cristina Portolano (born 1986, Naples) discusses her work as a cartoonist exploring sexuality and relational difficulties. In 2018, she published 'Io sono Mare' with Canicola Edizioni, a symbolic adventure about a girl and her pet fish, supported by Italian comic festivals, readers, and bookstores. Her first book 'Quasi Signorina' (Topipittori) targets pre-teens and teens, addressing taboos like menstruation and sex. She has worked with Topipittori and Rizzoli, and recently used crowdfunding. Portolano emphasizes creative freedom and risk-taking by publishers. She is working on a biography of painter Francis Bacon.

Key facts

  • Cristina Portolano was born in Naples in 1986.
  • Her comics explore sexuality and relational difficulties.
  • In 2018, she published 'Io sono Mare' with Canicola Edizioni.
  • 'Io sono Mare' is part of the project 'Dalla parte delle bambine'.
  • Her first book 'Quasi Signorina' was published by Topipittori.
  • She has collaborated with Topipittori and Rizzoli.
  • She is working on a biography of Francis Bacon.
  • She values creative freedom and publisher risk-taking.

Entities

Artists

  • Cristina Portolano
  • Francis Bacon

Institutions

  • Canicola Edizioni
  • Topipittori
  • Rizzoli
  • Artribune Magazine

Locations

  • Naples
  • Italy

Sources