Štěpánka Jislová
Štěpánka Jislová (*1992 in Prague) is a Czech illustrator and comic artist. She studied design and art in Pilsen and has published her graphic short stories in numerous Czech and international anthologies.
Her work is shaped by the cultural and political complexities of post-Soviet Europe. She has (co-)authored eight comic albums - from the biography Havel: Dancing with the Devil and the comic series Češi (2013–2016) to fictional and superhero titles such as SUPRO: Heroes on Credit. In 2020, she illustrated the graphic novel Milada Horáková. She is particularly well known for autobiographical works such as Hairless (with Tereza Čechová), about beauty standards and living with alopecia, as well as Heartcore, a personal memoir about relationships and toxic patterns of love. Beyond comics, she illustrates books, writes scripts and gives lectures.
Friday, 17 July 2026, 16 to 17
Reading: When the Hair Falls
A Graphic Novel Reading on Alopecia, Identity, and Inner Strength
In a reading with projections, illustrator Štěpánka Jislová presents the graphic novel „Hairless“ – a moving story about sudden hair loss, self-doubt, and the courage to embrace self-acceptance. The reading will be held in English; the book will be available in German.
Katharinenruine; in case of very bad weather, the event will take place in the nearby Katharinensaal
8 Euro / remaining tickets available at the evening box office
Moderation: Hannah Diemer
Comic-Workshop: Bringing Comics to Life
Is there a story from your life worth telling? Let's turn you into a comic character then! Designing your cast isn’t just about drawing faces. In this workshop with Štěpánka, you’ll explore how Pixar animators think about character design, why strong, readable shapes matter, and how to translate real-life traits, emotions, and experiences into a stylized autobiographical character. Together, you’ll create the best version of you to tell your story!
The workshop combines a short theoretical introduction with clear visual examples and a fast-paced series of practical exercises. By the end of the session, participants will have created a short autobiographical comic that could just as easily serve as the opening page of their own graphic novel.
The workshop will be held in English.
Direct booking, no application necessary.
Saturday, 18 July 2026 – 10.30 to 12.30
Ort: Bildungszentrum, Gewerbemuseumsplatz 2, Nürnberg
Preis: 30 Euro, maximal 12 Plätze
When the hair falls
[Kommode Verlag, Zürich, 2026]
Tereza never imagined she would lose her hair before her boyfriend did. Nor that she would one day be unable to tie it into a ponytail or style it at all. When alopecia took all her hair within just a few months, it profoundly reshaped how she viewed her relationships, her work, and, above all, herself. Confronting the very specific realities of female hair loss, she reflects on body image, the limits of trust in medical authorities, and her complicated relationship with stress, productivity, and self-worth. With humor and sharp self-awareness, she learns to navigate a new reality in this award-winning graphic memoir, brought vividly to life through the striking artwork of Štěpánka Jislová (author Tereza Drahoňovská).
