Ashanti Fortson
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ashantifortson.com
Ashanti Fortson
@ashantifortson.com
5.9K followers 290 following 570 posts
Cartoonist, illustrator, embroiderer, color designer. They/them.
🇲🇽 ENG/ESP OK

NO AI. Get outta here

https://ashantifortson.com/
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ashantifortson.com
Ashanti Fortson @ashantifortson.com · Nov 10
Hi! I'm Ashanti Fortson, a queer Afrolatine multidisciplinary artist working as a graphic novelist & illustrator. I also embroider and needle-felt. I'm interested in color, texture, evocation, and emotion.

Available for freelance!
Check out my shop! 💜

🎨 ashantifortson.com
🛍️ seatoad.bigcartel.com
Illustration of an albatross pressing its weight down on a curled-up person, its huge wings closing in on them. The person has long dark hair that curls around them, around the albatross' feet, and tangles around the albatross' body. The person is surrounded by corals, seashells, and forget-me-not flowers. Comic page from my short horror comic, The Hue of Heaven. Cassandra, a disabled Black teenager housed in the Cardinal's supposedly-altruistic home for sick and disabled youth, anxiously wonders where her friend Antonio has been taken after the surgery that would cure him. She encounters the Cardinal on a walk and asks him if Antonio is walking. The page is tense and chilly, emphasizing the distrust Cassandra has for the Cardinal. Illustration in limited color showing various vignettes of people engaging in fun summer activities, like going to a concert, but they are all unmasked. A figure in the center is isolated in a dark void, ignored by the other figures. The central figure is the only one masking Photo of three needle felted little mushroom creatures in a line. The first has a square green cap and a surprised face. The second has a golden round cap and a smiling face. The third has a pink gilled cap and a blushing face. What you don't see in the photo is that all three have big booty cheeks.
ashantifortson.com
A illustration for The Baltimore Banner, about government rollbacks on protections for abused/neglected immigrant youth, and the fear, unease, and instability that those affected are experiencing.
Wide illustration of a silhouetted young woman facing towards her imagined future, represented by a series of vignettes: graduating college, buying a house with a partner, and starting a family. The vignettes are depicted in bright, soft greens and oranges, while the young woman in silhouette stands in a dark blue, textural space. A sharp divide sits between the young woman and her future.
November 26, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
plaguingpossum.bsky.social
Absolutely do buy books if you can. And there’s a lot of ways you can pay without money. You can promote or write about or share work. I did an art trade recently with an artist in Chile bc we didn’t have mutual payment options. Or you can share with the author what the work made you feel. Etc
November 26, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
plaguingpossum.bsky.social
Let’s be so for real about who the real thieves in creative industries are. It’s not someone pirating a damn pdf. It’s the fucking parasites scraping yr work for an LLM, it’s algo-brained ghouls at the highest levels of major media who killed art as a career so they could pocket your living
November 26, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
minniesmum.bsky.social
Hooray we have a matcher who will match up to US$100 of donations. We can do this! 💕💕 like, share, donate if you can.
minniesmum.bsky.social Minnie’s mum @minniesmum.bsky.social · 19h
11/700 with only days to go, to ensure Maha and family stay housed in the cold, rainy winter of G@za. Our donations keep them alive. Can you help? ANYTHING HELPS
Saving lives on the frontline in Palestine - help Maha
My name is Louisa and I'm raising money for my dear friend Maha and her family in Gaza.
chuffed.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:02 PM
ashantifortson.com
More thermal printer stickers 💫
Photo of my hand holding two small strips of thermal printer stickers. One design features shooting stars, the other features koroks from the Legend of Zelda game series
November 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM
ashantifortson.com
Drew up a little sticker design and printed it on my thermal label printer! Baby.
photo of an illustrated sticker of a cute mushroom with a big booty. the word Baby is written on the mushroom’s cap. the mushroom has cute makeup on and has a tramp stamp in the shape of a heart photo of my hand holding a roll of several thermal-printed stickers, each with the same baby butt mushroom as in the previous image
November 18, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
tatianatrifan.bsky.social
"Alice Wong, ‘luminary’ writer and disability rights activist, dies aged 51
Daughter of immigrants advocated for people with disabilities to have full autonomy over their lives"

"Ho called her friend a “luminary of the disability justice movement”
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Alice Wong, ‘luminary’ writer and disability rights activist, dies aged 51
Daughter of immigrants advocated for people with disabilities to have full autonomy over their lives
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:58 PM
ashantifortson.com
Heartbroken to learn of Alice’s passing. I looked up to her immensely, and I was so grateful for her patience, grace, creativity, & insight as a collaborator. I will miss her fierce kindness & her sharp wit so very much.

I drew this portrait of us in 2021 for CommunityAsHome. Rest in power, Alice.
Illustrated portrait of Alice Wong and Ashanti Fortson, surrounded by dreamy purple clouds and shooting stars.
November 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
prisonculture.bsky.social
Alice Wong, Presente. Thank you for everything.
thrasherxy.bsky.social Steven W. Thrasher is finishing The Overseer Class @thrasherxy.bsky.social · 11d
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Black text on a yellow background - This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.
November 15, 2025 at 1:31 PM
ashantifortson.com
Almost done with pencils… almost…!
Image of a sketch in light blue and black. A girl in a large coat twirls with her arms outstretched, sparkles around her.
September 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
ashantifortson.com
Have fun at SPX, folks! Also vote for BALLAD FOR BLACK CASSANDRA in the ingatzes please
September 13, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
anuanew.bsky.social
I LOVE FLATTING COMICS!! if u need or know of someone who needs their pages flatted, hmu........i am flexible w/ rates : o )

here is my resume, a love letter (intro) to flatting via google slides

full version of this presentation over at tinyurl.com/Vronflat !!
January 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
ashantifortson.com
I crocheted a cute tote for myself this summer! Adapted from a pattern in Crochet Crush, by Molla Mills, with acrylic chain handles added. My new favorite bag! ☀️
Photo of Ashanti holding up a crocheted tote bag with acrylic chain handles and a white-and-yellow geometric colorwork design. The pattern is by Molla Mills, adapted slightly by Ashanti for this bag. Photo of Ashanti wearing the same crocheted bag over their shoulder. Overhead photo of the same crocheted tote bag lying flat on a table. Detail photo of the stitching and the acrylic chain handles. One handle is yellow and the other is white, to match the colors of the bag.
September 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM
ashantifortson.com
I crocheted a cute tote for myself this summer! Adapted from a pattern in Crochet Crush, by Molla Mills, with acrylic chain handles added. My new favorite bag! ☀️
Photo of Ashanti holding up a crocheted tote bag with acrylic chain handles and a white-and-yellow geometric colorwork design. The pattern is by Molla Mills, adapted slightly by Ashanti for this bag. Photo of Ashanti wearing the same crocheted bag over their shoulder. Overhead photo of the same crocheted tote bag lying flat on a table. Detail photo of the stitching and the acrylic chain handles. One handle is yellow and the other is white, to match the colors of the bag.
September 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
valkwise.bsky.social
reading black flame had me shaking and crying only a quarter of the way in. i was being given something i couldn’t even begin to articulate my need for until it was in front of me. i can’t recommend it enough.
erikapriceart.bsky.social Erika Price at Thought Bubble B9 2000AD Hall @erikapriceart.bsky.social · Sep 11
Given the people who run this place are transphobic crypto fascists who kick trans women. Let’s promote Gretchen’s work on here for her. She has a new book out. It looks really cool, you should grab a copy and help her out, and also you’ll get to read a cool book bookshop.org/p/books/blac...
Black Flame
Check out Black Flame - <p><b>An instant <i>USA Today</i> bestseller!</b><br><br><b>One woman's deadly obsession with a haunted archival film precipitates her undoing in </b><b><i>Black Flame</i></b><...
bookshop.org
September 11, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
prisonculture.bsky.social
It's simple. They see themselves in him. They do not see themselves in his targets.
September 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
riteshwriter.bsky.social
Being informed that DC has cancelled Gretchen Felker-Martin's work to appease the whiners of the world.

Should be a reminder for folks as to what Corporate IP comics actually are, because ppl forget and act like these enterprises are progressive to justify their consumption.
September 11, 2025 at 7:32 AM
ashantifortson.com
Breaking news: local bug Ashanti enjoying Silksong greatly
September 10, 2025 at 3:12 AM
ashantifortson.com
Finished my mom's birthday basket, complete with a mother-of-pearl button to secure the hinged lid. Love how it came out and so does she 🥰
Photo of a handmade basket with a hinged lid and button loop. The basket is crocheted from undyed raffia and a soft gray linen cord, around a raffia core. The button on the front is flower-shaped and made of mother-of-pearl.
September 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
minniesmum.bsky.social
Ok folks I am raising $US500 (AU$750) for our beloved Maha and her family, so they have some money when they ultimately get displaced. So far we have $US$34/500 ($AU50/750). My aim is to meet this target by Tuesday 9 September. Can you help?
Saving lives on the frontline in Palestine - help Maha
My name is Louisa and I'm raising money for my dear friend Maha and her family in Gaza. Here is her story:
chuffed.org
September 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
odera.bsky.social
Studio flash sale! Lots of sketches and small paintings collecting dust and looking for a new home.

This one is an acrylic plein air painting on watercolor paper of Queenie Park
$50-$100 sliding scale. Reply or message me if you are interested ⭐️
acrylic painting of queenie park as golden light peaks through the sky the painting is surrounded by taped off and gestural yellow ochre brush marks
September 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
ashantifortson.com
Just relaunched my newsletter! Here's the first installment of Letters from a Gnome. You, too, can subscribe and receive letters, in your email inbox, from a gnome (me)

letters-from-a-gnome.beehiiv.com/p/letters-fr...
Letters from a Gnome #1
Relaunching my newsletter!
letters-from-a-gnome.beehiiv.com
September 3, 2025 at 3:33 PM
ashantifortson.com
A recent #illustration for The Baltimore Banner, on young people using chatGPT as an anonymous personal diary & confidante despite knowing the risks and consequences of using it
Illustration of a silhouetted person lying on their stomach in front of a laptop, smiling, twirling their hair, with their feet kicked up. Chat bubble shapes filled with emojis, checklists, and punctuation flow outwards from the laptop. The laptop screen has a "typing" chat bubble with an ellipsis
August 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Ashanti Fortson
ashantifortson.com
Ever wanted some of my illustrations as desktop/mobile wallpapers, or perhaps social media icons/PFPs?

Good news: I just put up FIVE wallpaper & icon packs up for sale on my Ko-fi shop, each for only $1. Check 'em out!

🎨 ko-fi.com/ashantiforts... 🎨
Promotional graphic for the Wooper wallpaper and icon pack by Ashanti Fortson, featuring different crops of the original illustration: one desktop wallpaper, one mobile wallpaper, and two square avatar options Promotional graphic for the Goddess wallpaper and icon pack by Ashanti Fortson, featuring different crops of the original illustration: one desktop wallpaper, one mobile wallpaper, and two square avatar options Promotional graphic for the Hedgehogs wallpaper and icon pack by Ashanti Fortson, featuring different crops of the original illustration: one mobile wallpaper and two square avatar options Promotional graphic for the Strawberry wallpaper and icon pack by Ashanti Fortson, featuring different crops of the original illustration: one desktop wallpaper, one mobile wallpaper, and two square avatar options
June 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM