Led by Director of Undergraduate Admission Sheika Lugtu, the free festival will celebrate DIY comics, indie games, and community storytelling at the Heinz History Center on March 15.
The Pittsburgh Indie Expo (PIE) returns for its second year on Sunday, March 15, at the Heinz History Center. Founded and led by Sheika Lugtu, the School of Art’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions & Enrollment, the expo has quickly become a cornerstone for the region’s “maker” culture, attracting over 1,200 attendees in its inaugural year.
“Pittsburgh has always been a city of makers, but a lot of independent publishing happens quietly — at kitchen tables and in basement printers,” says Lugtu. “PIE is about bringing that work into the light. Storytelling doesn’t require permission; it just requires your voice.”
The expo features over 100 independent artists, small-press exhibitors, and experimental storytellers. Attendees can expect live panels, hands-on workshops, and a Mobile Cartoon Museum featuring original art and screenings from the archives of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.
This year’s festival features several members of the School of Art community:
- Special guest curator Christina Lee (BFA ’14) is the founder of Pullproof Studio and the Pittsburgh Zine Fair — and the artist behind the 2022 School of Art t-shirt — who is organizing the festival’s Saturday Kickoff Reading on March 14 at Pullproof Studio.
- Panelist Wendy Willis (MFA Program Assistant Director) is the co-founder of the nonprofit production studio Now What?!, which uses cartoons to explore democracy and civic engagement. The group will lead a special panel discussion from 2:30pm – 3:30pm in the 6th floor library.
- Artist Hannibal Gerald (BFA ’22) designed this year’s official festival poster.
The event is free and open to the public, and attendees will also receive complimentary access to the Heinz History Center’s museum exhibitions for the day.