HG Garner (they/them) grew up in Corvallis, Oregon, immersed in comic books from an early age. Their fascination with the medium developed into a passion for exploring the unique storytelling possibilities that comics offer. In summer 2024, Garner earned a BFA in Art Practice with a Comic Studies Certificate from Portland State University. They are currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of South Florida, where they continue to create comics alongside their writing practice.

Artist Statement

White Noise Isle: Part Two of Three is the second installment of an ongoing Cosmic Horror comic that follows a girl who discovers an island has appeared off the coast of her town—an island no one else can see but her. The first thirty-two pages of the comic are available at hgarner.com, with the full work planned for release on the site later this year.

For this exhibition, I wanted to present my work at a scale and composition not previously possible. Comics and gallery art remain an uncommon pairing. I’m interested in how this shift in context alters the reading and viewing experience—particularly for audiences encountering the work for the first time without prior knowledge of the story. This section was selected specifically to stand on its own in a gallery setting. The theme of white noise also invites viewers to participate in interpretation, and this method of display encourages that open-ended engagement with the work.