Halftone Zine Fest coming to UK SA/VS May 16
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 12, 2026) — The 13th annual Halftone Zine Fest is noon-5 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the University of Kentucky’s School of Art & Visual Studies (SA/VS), 236 Bolivar St. in Lexington.
The festival, a UK student initiative under the guidance of SA/VS faculty member David Wischer, celebrates zines — independently produced magazines — comics and printed art in a variety of forms. The atmosphere is open for individuals to meet, interact and learn from each other about self-publishing.
The event is free and open to the public.
Formerly known as the Ephemera Festival & the Kentucky Fried Zine Fest, the Halftone Zine Fest will feature a pop-up event hosted by Muse Collective from noon to 5 p.m. Attendees can bring one small object to be part of a living, shifting display on exhibit at the festival. Object choice is up to the individual, and can be most anything — artwork, a photograph, a handwritten letter, favorite recipe, a found object or something that resists definition altogether. The objects must be of suitable size and weight to be hung on a clothesline. Throughout the day, the line will evolve as new pieces are added, rearranged, or exchanged, becoming a collective expression shaped in real time.
The event also includes a panel discussion at 2 p.m. titled “Two-Headed Beast: A BayerHell Panel.” Panelists include Josh Bayer and Hyena Hell, who will discuss their artistic practices and roles as comics educators. Panel moderator is J.T. Dockery, creator of the “DESPAIR” comics series and “Juanita & the Frog” in collaboration with the late Kentucky writer Ed McClanahan.
For more information on the Halftone Zine Fest, visit halftonezinefest.org.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.