Twin Cities comic artist wins Quatrefoil Scholarship

September 2, 2022

Photograph of Gen Deyo (they/them), the 2022 winner of the Quatrefoil Library scholarship. Gen is wearing a black jacket, and is seated at a table with a pen in hand and a notebook of drawings in front of them.
Photo of Gen Deyo by Mason Simmons.

Gen Deyo, a sophomore majoring in comic arts at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, has won the 2022 Quatrefoil Scholarship.

Quatrefoil, a nonprofit, all-volunteer LGBTQ+ library and community center, annually awards $1,000 to help young Minnesotans with tuition.

Deyo, 19, grew up in Champlin, Minn., and attended Champlin High School, where they were president of the art club and co-president of the school’s gender and sexuality acceptance group.

While still in high school, Deyo attracted a large following on TikTok for their fan art inspired by such animated series as Avatar: The Last Air Bender and She-Ra: Princess of Power.

“That gave me confidence to pursue art as a career,” Deyo said.

Deyo began coming-out at age 11, identifying now as a non-binary lesbian.

Original black-and-white drawing called 'The Lovers' by Gen Deyo. There are two figures facing each other, gazing into each others' eyes. They may be laying on a bed; the figure on the right is upside-down with respect to the figure on the left. The figure on the left has a lighter skin tone, and has bright hair; the figure on the right is black with black hair. Their button-down shirt is open at the top.
Original artwork by Gen Deyo, used with permission.

“It’s important to acknowledge what a label means to others, but labels are fluid,” Deyo said. “Each individual has expectations as to what their identity means and how willing they are to share that. Just being respectful of everyone’s queer journey is important.”

At MCAD, in an atmosphere they describe as “very queer-friendly,” Deyo is pursuing a full schedule of classes and working on longer sequential literature, including a gothic graphic novel they are doing with collaborators.

Inspirations include Alison Bechdel (Fun Home, Are You My Mother?) and Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me).

Deyo believes that a queer library like Quatrefoil plays a crucial role by offering “free media to make sure that our stories are accessible and not buried under heteronormative work.”

In their own life, Deyo is determined to be part of that process, saying, “I hope to create more work that empowers everyone to be seen, to be known, and to be loved for who they are.”

Deyo is the fourth winner of a Quatrefoil Scholarship. Their award is made possible entirely by library friends and donors. To make a tax-deductible gift to Quatrefoil, click here.

For more information on the Quatrefoil Library scholarship (including information on how to apply), visit this page.