Art is Resistance: Illustrating Identity & Culture

Published show notes

Inside the conversation.

What happens when an object like a book becomes part of your identity? 📚

Adam Lehrhaupt sits down with award-winning author/illustrator Rahele Jomepour-Bell (Books Big Adventure), an assistant professor at the Kansas City Art Institute, to explore the profound role of art and culture in children's literature.

Rahele shares her powerful personal journey—from growing up in Iran during wartime to finding solace in books and color—and how that shapes her breathtaking, detail-rich illustrations today. This episode is a must-listen for educators seeking to foster diversity, creativity, and visual literacy in the classroom.

💡 Key Takeaways & Classroom Tips

• The Power of Object: Why books, textiles, and everyday objects can become integral to a child's cultural identity.
• Visual Literacy: How illustrators can visually demonstrate concepts like motion and sound in a way authors can't (great for classroom activity ideas!).
• Diversity as a Conscious Choice: The importance of making deliberate decisions to include marginalized voices and perspectives in your work and reading lists.
• School Visit Programs: How illustrators can use a simple shape or concept to create unforgettable, engaging presentations for all grade levels.
• Creative Inspiration: Bringing the detailed beauty of Persian rugs and other cultural touchstones into storytelling.

⏰ Episode Chapters

• 00:01:03 | The Creative Process behind Books Big Adventure
• 00:04:40 | What Libraries Do with Old Books (The Red Truck Inspiration)
• 00:10:06 | Classroom Activity: Taking a Book on an Adventure
• 00:12:54 | Finding Art and Identity in Iran (Growing Up with Limited Color)
• 00:16:14 | School Visit Ideas for Illustrators (Visual Literacy)
• 00:22:15 | Creating a Thumbnail Sketch for Your Presentation
• 00:28:19 | Expressing Yourself Through Cultural Books
• 00:33:09 | Diversity is a Choice: Being Conscious in Creating and Reading
• 00:39:15 | Upcoming Project: The Sweetest Lemon

🌟 Connect & Resources

Want to work with Rahele or explore her beautiful art?

• Find Rahele Jomepour-Bell's Art: Follow her on Instagram and website! (Instagram @Rahele_studio, website rahelestudio.com)
• Book Adam Lehrhaupt: Learn more about author visits at AdamL.Rocks 👈
• New Book Alert: Look out for Rahele's new book, The Sweetest Lemon, coming next year!

Keep reading, keep creating, and keep resisting!