The following is an interview with Eisner and Harvey Awards-winning artist Klaus Janson on the recent launch of an exhibition of his artwork at the Philippe Labaune Gallery in New York City. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Janson about the collaborative process of bringing the exhibition to life with the Philippe Labaune Gallery, the conversations that his body of work may initiate with attendees, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: You recently launched a new exhibition of your work at the Philippe Labaune Gallery in New York. What can you share with us about the genesis behind this particular exhibit, and how would you describe your creative process in curating the select artwork to be featured?
Klaus Janson: I was wondering that myself at times. I think this started because I did an exhibition in Lyon, France, in November 2024, and found it to be fun. It scratched a different creative itch to put together, it was fun to be there, and and it was great to meet and talk to so many people that had an interest not only in the work that I had done but also in the medium of visual storytelling, which I love very much.
I wasn’t sure I had the requisite number of pages to put on another exhibit, but I had kept a fair amount of pages through the 50-plus years I’ve been working and managed to find some good pages. My criteria for picking pages turned out to be pretty simple: It should have some artistic substance, maybe some historical significance and be entertaining. Â
BD: Likewise, what can you share with us about your experience in collaborating with the Philippe Labaune Gallery in order to represent your life’s creative work?
KJ: During this whole process I am getting to know Philippe a bit. I can tell you for sure, if I didn’t like and respect him, I wouldn’t be doing this. I used to go to his gallery before we became friendly and was impressed even then with what he was doing. He’s willing to try different things, experiment a little and take some chances, and I admire that.
The Philippe LaBaune Gallery is focused exclusively on sequential narrative and even as a kid I wondered why some types of art hang on a wall and others don’t. I deeply respect this medium and the process of creating within this medium. It’s a medium that is complex and challenging and certainly worthy of hanging on a wall like any other piece of art. Any gallery or person who can put a spotlight on that I think needs to be supported.  Â
BD: In revisiting your work, was there anything new or intriguing that you took away from the imagery that you hadn’t anticipated when originally creating it?
KJ: The work starts before I turned pro when I was a teenager drawing for fanzines dedicated to comics and goes up to the present day. That’s a lot of time! What I was able to see was my own evolution as a storyteller for one. So much time had passed on some of the work, I was able to look at it unemotionally and objectively and that was quite interesting. In a way I became the audience to my own work.
It also allowed me the chance to see what worked and what didn’t and that alone makes the exhibit worthwhile!
BD: This exhibit will continue the gallery’s focus on seminal comics creators. What, if any, conversations do you feel that this exhibit may evoke from attendees?
KJ: You’re right that it’s a conversation. If an attendee walks away from this exhibit learning something about comic books, how they’re made, and the thought that goes into the process, I would be very happy. So, let’s start that conversation!
BD: Lastly, what are you most excited for attendees to experience with the exhibit, whether a personal favorite selection of your work or one that has been most meaningful to you?
KJ: I don’t want people to walk away feeling like they will be quizzed on the pages. I hope that the audience will have some fun.
