ashanti fortson

cartoonist • illustrator • gnome

Hello! This site is a work-in-progress. Thanks for your patience.

Illustration: teacher protects classroom in a storm

Done for The Baltimore Banner • 2025

Illustration: woman floats in safety bubble of audiobooks as wildfires rage

Done for The Baltimore Banner • 2025

Illustration: silhouetted man video-calls his family in India, amidst vignettes of happy families and tourists in Baltimore and DC

Done for The Baltimore Banner • 2025

Illustration: cupped hands hold school-related objects and autistic self-care objects

Done for Edutopia • 2025

Illustration: people stuck in boxes and reaching for an open exit door just out of reach

Done for The Baltimore Banner • 2025

Illustration: person wearing mask sits in void while unmasked people enjoy summertime activities around them

Sick Girl Summer • personal piece • 2024

Illustration: fantasy marketplace by the ocean, with boats, ferris wheel, kites, and lanterns

The Pier • personal piece • 2023

Illustration: fantasy village made of giant seashells

Seashells • Patreon wallpaper • 2023

Illustration: excited child in theater seat with popcorn and soda, surrounded by movie vignettes

Movie-going • commissioned by GKIDS • 2021

Illustration: diverse group of people add to a community quilt, which shows Mariame Kaba quote on collectivity

Poster art and logo for Carleton University's annual Sexual Assault Awareness Week • 2023

Single-page comic: an old woman traveller encounters her past self in a magic fountain of wishes

The Fountain • published in Secrets of the Goat People: Searching • 2017

Illustration: parent and child hedgehogs sit on a peaceful hill looking at the sunset, with starry skies above

Mural illustration for the Boston Children's Hospital • 2021

Illustrated portrait of Audre Lorde with her books as the backdrop

Portrait of Audre Lorde, commissioned by Patreon for Black History Month • 2021

Illustration: child standing on Monopoly board reaches up to giant hand holding Monopoly house piece. Lettering reads, who sets the price of rent?

Done for podcast Million Bazillion • 2023

Single-page comic of three humorous vignettes showing the difficulties renters face in amenities, location, and demand

Done for podcast Million Bazillion • 2023

Illustration of six people working in jobs that expect tips: golf caddies, waiters, hotel doormen, hair stylists, delivery drivers, and dog walkers

Done for podcast Million Bazillion • 2023

Illustration: two kids hike up a slope of positive stocks growth, avoiding slopes of declining stocks

Done for podcast Million Bazillion • 2024

Illustration: kids play in a pool of gold coins and objects. Lettering reads, why is there so much gold at Fort Knox?

Done for podcast Million Bazillion • 2024

Embroidery of a small nude winged trans woman

Abject Firmament #1 • 2025

Needle-felted sculpture of caterpillar-like creature wearing pink lipstick and purple knitted shawl

2025

Needle-felted sculpture of a strawberry with a yellow-eyed creature living inside its cavity

2025

Embroidery of sugar skull T-Rex in colorful thread on dark fabric

2023

Embroidery of butterfly in orange, black, white, and sparkle thread on green fabric

2021

Framed embroidery of fantasy cloud city with stars and giant fish

2021

Embroidery of abstract pink and white squiggles

2023

Needle-felted sculpture of Nintendo character Kirby taking a nap

Prize donated to charity event Games Done Quick • 2024

Three embroidered felt fish magnets with different designs and expressions

2024

Embroidery of expressive and colorful field of sunflowers

2020

Three needle-felted sculptures of cute mushroom characters, seen from the front, showing their happy expressions Three needle-felted sculptures of cute mushroom characters, seen from the back, showing their buttcheecks

2024