A conversation on contemporary visual storytelling and the evolving language of picture books
On June 10 at 6:00 PM, Rizzoli Bookstore, in collaboration with the School of Visual Arts (SVA), will host “Visual Storytelling in Picture Books,” a conversation exploring the evolution of contemporary picture books and the ways visual narratives continue to shape the reading experiences of young audiences around the world.
The event will open with a keynote video message from Claudio Pagliara, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York who will reflect on the importance of cultural dialogue between Italy and the United States and on the role that illustration and children’s publishing play in fostering new forms of international exchange.
The conversation will bring together Felicita Sala, one of the most acclaimed Italian illustrators working internationally today, and Mac Barnett, among the most influential voices in contemporary children’s literature. Moderated by Ilaria Tontardini of Hamelin, the discussion will explore the relationship between words and images, the changing landscape of picture-book publishing, and the enduring power of visual storytelling to cross cultural and linguistic boundaries.
The evening will continue with a presentation of La porta segreta / Make Believe, featuring Mac Barnett, Giulia Rizzo of Terre di Mezzo Editore, and Sally Kim of Little, Brown and Company, followed by a book signing.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience “Color Me Italian – Window Art,” a special installation by Alison Spring, presented by Rizzoli NYC in collaboration with the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program at the School of Visual Arts.
The event is part of “Zig Zag: A Visual Bridge Between Italy and the USA,” a festival dedicated to illustration and the exchange of visual languages between Italy and the United States. Taking place across New York City from June 8 to June 12, 2026, the festival brings together some of the most compelling voices in contemporary illustration through a program of talks, conversations, and public events hosted at several iconic venues throughout the city.
Curated by Steven Guarnaccia and Hamelin, in collaboration with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and promoted by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, Zig Zag was conceived to strengthen cultural dialogue between the two countries and to create new opportunities for exchange among artists, publishers, educators, and readers. As part of the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, the festival highlights illustration as a powerful tool for communication, imagination, and mutual understanding across borders.
Sally Kim is an editor at Little, Brown and Company, where she works on a wide range of fiction and nonfiction titles, with a particular focus on distinctive, voice-driven storytelling. She is known for her collaborative editorial approach and for working closely with authors and illustrators to shape books that balance narrative clarity with creative risk-taking. Over the course of her career in publishing, she has contributed to the development of internationally successful and critically acclaimed works, helping to bring original and diverse perspectives to a global readership. In the context of children’s and illustrated publishing, she has played an active role in championing picture books that push the boundaries of form and language, supporting projects that engage both young readers and adults. Her work reflects a strong commitment to storytelling as a space of imagination, cultural exchange, and innovation within contemporary publishing.
Felicita Sala is an Italian-Australian illustrator whose work is known for its warmth, richness of detail, and strong narrative sensitivity. Raised between Italy and Australia, she has developed a visual language shaped by multiple cultural influences. Her illustrations often depict domestic scenes, food, shared rituals, and everyday gestures, turning them into moments of quiet storytelling. She works extensively in children’s publishing, collaborating with authors from different countries and backgrounds. Her drawings are carefully composed, combining traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility. There is a strong attention to atmosphere in her work, where light, texture, and color contribute to the narrative. She often focuses on the small scale of human experience, revealing its emotional depth. Her books have been widely published and translated internationally. She is appreciated for her ability to make the ordinary feel meaningful and universally relatable. She lives and works in Rome, continuing to develop a practice rooted in observation and storytelling.
Mac Barnett is an American author of children’s books whose work has redefined contemporary picture book storytelling through playfulness, irony, and a constant dialogue with the reader. His narratives often break the fourth wall and question the very act of telling a story, turning reading into an active and surprising experience. He is widely known for his long-standing collaboration with illustrator Jon Klassen, with whom he created some of the most influential picture books of recent years. His books explore imagination as a space of freedom and contradiction, where humor and philosophical depth coexist. Barnett’s writing is characterized by precision and economy, yet it opens up unexpected narrative layers. His work has been translated internationally and has received numerous awards in the field of children’s literature. He is also active in promoting literacy and reading culture among young audiences. Across his production, he maintains a strong focus on the relationship between author, story, and reader. His books are often structured as puzzles that invite interpretation rather than offering fixed meanings. He is considered one of the most innovative voices in contemporary children’s literature.
Alison Spring is an illustrator and visual artist whose work explores the relationship between narrative, space, and visual language, often moving between illustration, installation, and site-specific projects. Her practice is characterized by a strong sensitivity to architectural environments and public space, using drawing and graphic interventions to activate surfaces and transform everyday contexts into visual storytelling experiences. She has developed projects for cultural institutions, editorial commissions, and collaborative exhibitions, with a particular interest in how illustration can extend beyond the page into immersive and participatory forms. In her work, Spring frequently engages with themes of observation, movement, and urban imagery, combining a refined graphic sensibility with a conceptual approach to visual communication. Her projects often invite viewers to reconsider familiar spaces through subtle interventions that blend illustration, design, and narrative suggestion. Through her practice, she contributes to an expanded understanding of illustration as a flexible and contemporary language, capable of connecting publishing, public art, and experimental visual culture.
Claudio Pagliara is an Italian journalist and cultural director, currently serving as Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York. His career has been deeply rooted in international reporting, with a long trajectory as a correspondent for RAI, where he covered major global developments from key geopolitical centers including the United States and the Middle East. His work has consistently focused on interpreting complex political and cultural dynamics for an Italian audience, combining field reporting with a strong analytical perspective. Over the years, Pagliara has developed a journalistic approach attentive not only to events, but also to the broader cultural and historical frameworks in which they unfold. This sensitivity to context has shaped his way of understanding international relations as narratives shaped by both power and perception. His experience in different regions of the world has contributed to a nuanced view of global interconnections, particularly between Europe and the United States. In his current role at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, he works at the intersection of culture, diplomacy, and public engagement. He oversees programs that promote Italian cultural production abroad and encourage dialogue between artists, institutions, and audiences. His direction reflects a vision of culture as an active space of exchange rather than a static representation of identity.
Through his dual background in journalism and cultural management, Pagliara brings together storytelling, institutional strategy, and international perspective.
Ilaria Tontardini is an Italian curator and researcher working with Hamelin in Bologna, an association dedicated to comics, illustration, and children’s literature. Her work focuses on illustration as a cultural and educational language, and on how images circulate between publishing, exhibitions, and pedagogical contexts. She develops curatorial projects, exhibitions, and public programs that connect artists, publishers, schools, and cultural institutions, with a strong attention to visual storytelling and its contemporary forms. A key aspect of her practice is the study of how illustration communicates across different audiences and contexts, from children’s books to experimental visual narratives. Over the years she has collaborated with international festivals and cultural organizations, contributing to projects that promote dialogue between Italian illustration and the wider international scene. Her approach combines research and curatorial practice, with a focus on interpretation and cultural exchange. Within Hamelin, she plays an active role in supporting new generations of illustrators and in shaping critical reflection on illustration today.
Zig Zag Festival
New York, June 8-12, 2026
Some of the best Italian and American illustrators gather in New York for a visual dialog that spans and unites both sides of the Atlantic.
A program of talks on illustration and comics celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Organized by the Italian Cultural Institute
Curated by Hamelin and Steven Guarnaccia,
in collaboration with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
Partners: Society of Illustrators, Rizzoli Bookstore, Salotto, Sullaluna Bookshop & Bistrot, SVA School of Visual Arts
