Award for Konstfack doctoral student researching the empowering power of images
5 August 2026
Konstfack doctoral student in Visual Communication, Bitte Andersson, has been awarded RFSL Stockholm’s Community Hero 2026 distinction. The award recognises her longstanding work to create space for queer stories, forms of expression and communities through art and culture.
Photo: Alecio Araci
The distinction reflects the issues at the heart of Bitte Andersson’s doctoral project, “Visual Empowerment – Exploring Comics’ Ability to Strengthen Readers and Communities”.
In her research, she examines how comics and visual storytelling can strengthen people and contribute to community, participation and agency. The project explores what empowerment can mean in practice, for different groups and in different contexts.
Among Bitte Andersson’s best-known works are her graphic novel “At the End of the Rainbow” (2017), which was released in a new edition with bonus material in 2026, and the film “Dyke Hard” (2015).
During the year, she is also contributing to Tecknaruppropet’s book about the forthcoming election year titled, “Historien om Sverige: Tidötiden”. Her contribution to the book, “Tidölagar”, forms part of her research project.
Andersson, Bitte: Visual Empowerment – Exploring Comics' Ability to Strengthen Readers and Communities
RFSL Stockholm presenterar årets utmärkelser 2026
Tecknaruppropet