Mónica Weiss illustrates, writes and designs books.
She teaches and gives conferences about Picture Books, and was -from its creation in 1998 until 2005- the General Coordinator of the Foro de Ilustradores / Argentina (Illustrators Forum of Argentina).
She has received numerous national and international prizes and awards for her books, and also as an architect, a musician, a visual artist, and for her institutional work.


STUDIES & BACKGROUND
She is an architect. Has been Professor of Architectural Design IV and V at the University of Buenos Aires.
She has designed and built houses, restaurants, offices, clubs, seaside resorts, stage settings, industrial garden lines, fabrics, women’s handbags, and dozens of logos, isotypes and brands.
She recently designed and directed the building of the Argentine Stand of the WHEN COWS FLY Exibition at the 2008 Bologna’s International Children’s Book Fair, in Italy.
She has been a soloist and chorus SINGER, and –for ten years- she studied PIANO with Susana Agrest, DANCE with Marta de LourenÇo, and PAINTING and ENGRAVING with Nelia Licenziato.
She studied CRITIQUE with Beatriz Sarlo, José Aricó and others; and SEMIOTICS with Lucrecia Escudero Castagnino (Umberto Eco’s assistant).


ILLUSTRATED BOOKS / PICTURE BOOKS
As an illustrator, writer and designer, she has published more than 70 books in USA, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Spain and Argentina, and her work was published in magazines in England, France, Venezuela, and Argentina.
Some of her more well known books are:
“CUMPLEAÑOS DE DINOSAURIO”, (“Dinosaur Birthday”) written and illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Ed. Sudamericana, Buenos Aires, 2001 (republished several times, now also distributed through the Reading National Campaign / UNESCO)
“VACACIONES DE DINOSAURIO”, (“Dinosaur Holidays”) written and illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Ed. Sudamericana, Buenos Aires, 2006.
“HUGO TIENE HAMBRE”, written by Silvia Schujer, illustrated and designed by Mónica Weiss, Grupo Editorial Norma, Bogotá, 2006. (republished and distributed by the SEP, Education Secretary of Mexico).
“¿QUIÉN ESTÁ DETRÁS DE ESA CASA?”, (“Who’s behind that house?”), written by Graciela Repún, illustrated and designed by Mónica Weiss, Libros Álbum del Eclipse, Buenos Aires, 2003, republished in Madrid, 2006.
“LIMERICS”, written by Isabel Freire de Matos, illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Ed. Alfaguara, Puerto Rico, 2003.
"COLECCIÓN LOLA", (“Lola Collection”), written by Canela, illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Ed. Sudamericana, Buenos Aires, desde 1995. Its titles, constantly republished, are: “LOLA DESCUBRE EL AIRE” (“Lola discovers the air”)– “LOLA CUENTA PATOS” (“Lola counts ducks”) – “LOLA DESCUBRE EL AGUA” (“Lola discovers the water”) – “LOLA VA A LA PLAZA” (“Lola goes to the park”) – “LOLA DESCUBRE EL FUEGO” (“Lola discovers the fire”) – “LOLA VA A DORMIR” (“Lola goes to bed”) – “LOLA PERDIÓ LA MAMADERA” (“Lola lost her mamadera”) – “LOLA SE VISTE SOLA” (“Lola dresses alone”).
"COLECCIÓN VEINTE ESCALONES", (Veinte Escalones Collection”), Ed. Comunicarte, Córdoba, Argentina, from 2005. Based on texts by different authors, the design of the collection’s image as well as the manual typographies and the illustrations, both interior and covers, are by Mónica Weiss. (The first 3 books, in collaboration with Virginia Piñón). Titles: “UN PERRO LLAMADO CUAL” – “EXAMEN FINAL” – “EL PUEBLO DE MALA MUERTE” – “QUIERO ESCAPAR DE BRIGITTE” – “ICARO” – “NOTON Y LOS LADRONES DE LUZ” – “LO QUE DEBAS SER” – “RUTINA (NADA NORMAL) DE UNA ADOLESCENTE EN CRISIS” – “PASAJE A LA FRONTERA” – “LA MARCA EN LA TIERRA” – “LA CASITA AZUL” – “PUENTE” - "MAYONESA Y BANDONEÓN" - "EL PAÍS DE LOS MUECHOS SUELOS" - "EL ASESINATO DE LAS MUÑECAS" - "NUNCA SALGAS DESCONECTADO" - "SEIS AÑOS DESPUÉS" - "INSPECTOR MARTINUCHI - EL BARROSO CASO DEL NOMBRE DEL CUCO".
"COLECCIÓN RUEDA QUE RUEDA", (“Rueda que rueda Collection”), written by Malena Ríos, illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Ed. La Brujita de Papel, Buenos Aires, 2007. Titles: “EN EL RESTAURANTE - CON LOS ABUELOS”, “EN EL BAÑO - YO PUEDO SOLITO”, “EN EL SUPER - CON MAMÁ”.
“DEL AMOR NACEN LOS RÍOS”, (“From love the rivers come”), written by María Cristina Ramos, illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Ed. Sudamericana, 1998.
“LEYENDAS ARGENTINAS”, (“Argentine Legends”), written by Graciela Repún, illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Grupo Editorial Norma, Buenos Aires, 2001 / Bogotá, 2002.
“HISTORIETA DE AMOR”, (“Love Comic”), written by Graciela Cabal, illustrated by Mónica Weiss (her first work as an illustrator), Ed. Sudamericana, Buenos Aires, 1995.
“JACINTO”, written by Graciela Cabal, illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Ed. Sudamericana, Buenos Aires, 1997.
“AZUL LA CORDILLERA”, written by María Cristina Ramos, illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Grupo Editorial Norma, Buenos Aires/Bogotá, 2006.
“CELEBRATE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY WITH MRS. PARK’S CLASS”, written by Alma Flor Ada y F. Isabel Campoy, illustrated by Mónica Weiss, Ed. Alfaguara, Miami USA, 2006.


AWARDED BOOKS
-“Hugo tiene hambre” (“Hugo is hungry”), 2006 FIRST LATINOAMERICAN NORMA-FUNDALECTURA PRIZE for PICTURE BOOK, Colombia, http://www.nuevashojasdelectura.com/paginas/entrevista_R11.html
http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/libros/10-2076-2006-05-14.html
-“Cumpleaños de dinosaurio” (“Dinosaur birthday”), 2002 IBBY LIST OF HONOUR, Basilea, Switzerland (representing Argentina for two years), http://www.imaginaria.com.ar/06/4/andersen.htm
-"Colección VEINTE ESCALONES" (“Veinte Escalones Collection”), 2009 LOS DESTACADOS DE ALIJA* PRIZE/ Category: COLLECTION (*Alija is the local IBBY)
-“Un perro llamado Cual”, (“A dog named Which”), 2007 LOS TRES IMPRESCINDIBLES DE LA BIBLIOTECA AWARD, Banco del Libro de Venezuela (Venezuelan Bank of the Book);
-“Examen final”, (“Final Exam”) WHITE RAVENS 2008, Münich, Alemania;
-“Icaro”, 2007 DESTACADOS DE ALIJA PRIZE, Buenos Aires;
-“Quiero escapar de Brigitte” (“I want to escape from Brigitte”), 2007 DESTACADOS DE ALIJA PRIZE, Buenos Aires;
-“Leyendas argentinas”, (“Argentine Legends”) 2002 WHITE RAVENS. Münich, Alemania;
-“¿Quién está detrás de esa casa?” (“Who’s behind that house?”), one of the first 5 books belonging to the Libros Album del Eclipse Collection which received the "2004 PRIX OCTOGONE D’HONNEUR CIELJ", Paris, France;
-“LOLA Collection”, 2001 DESTACADOS DE ALIJA PRIZE for COLECTION, Buenos Aires;
http://portal.educ.ar/debates/contratapa/disciplinas/lit-infantil-y-juvenil/lola-se-viste-sola.php
-“Del amor nacen los ríos” (“From love the rivers come”), 1999 DESTACADOS DE ALIJA PRIZE, Buenos Aires, and 1999 TUCUMAN GOVERN LIST OF HONOUR;
-“Historieta de amor” (“Love comic”), 1996 TUCUMAN GOVERN LIST OF HONOUR;


OTHER DISTINCTIONS
- 2003 PREGONERO PRIZE for INSTITUTION, representing the Foro de Ilustradores / Argentina (Argentine Illustrator’s Forum);
- 2004 Guest artist to MAGIC PENCIL (Great Britain and Argentina);
- 2005 Jury’s Selection to COW PARADE BUENOS AIRES, for her “Adios Pampa Mía” cow;
- Chosen in Argentina for the 2001 WORKSHOP of the BRATISLAVA ILLUSTRATION BIENNALE, Slovakia.
- Selected for the Exhibitions and Catalogues of the BRATISLAVA ILLUSTRATION BIENNALE, in the following years: 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.


ARTICLES, CONFERENCES, TRIPS
In Argentina and other countries, she publishes articles, and gives workshops and conferences about compositive and artistic matters in picture books, about the Foro de Ilustradores history, about the place that children book ocupies in culture.
Some of these works can be seen in the ARTICLES section of the Foro de Ilustradores web www.forodeilustradores.com)
She has been a Jury member of various writing and illustration contests.
In Foreign Countries, she has been a guest artist and conferencist at:

- 2006 MEXICO’S BOOK FAIR,
- 2007 MINIMONDI FESTIVAL (Parma, Italia);
- 2007 and 2008 BOLOGNA`S CHILDREN BOOK FAIR, Italy;
- 2008 MADRID’S BOOK FAIR, Spain;
- 2008 INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHER CONGRESS, at the GUADALAJARA BOOK FAIR, Mexico.
In 2008, the French magazine “La joie par les livres”, published her article ’Illustrators / The woman of the book’, and another one in collaboration with Istvansch and Irene Singer about Argentine illustrators, and the Bologna/Argentine event.
In Argentina, she has been a guest artist and conferencist at:
- 1996 INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE CONGRESS of CEDILIJ, VILLA CARLOS PAZ, CÓRDOBA;
- 2000 FIRST CHILDREN LITERATURE SEMINAR of the City of Buenos Aires Government;
- 2000 NATIONAL READING PLAN, Presentations in MAR DEL PLATA;
- 2000, 2006 and 2007 CORDOBA’S BOOK FAIR;
- 2001 NATIONAL READING PLAN; presentations in MENDOZA;
- 2002 FIRST CHILDREN AND YOUTH LITERATURE CONGRESS in the PHILOSOPHY FACULTY, UBA / University of Buenos Aires;
- 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS CONGRESS at the CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR OF BUENOS AIRES;
- 2006 JITANJÁFORA CONGRESS in MAR DEL PLATA;
- 2007 MIGUEL DE CERVANTES PROJECT / AZUL AESTHETIC EDUCATION SCHOOL, Buenos Aires Province;
- 2007 WORKSHOP/ 912 KINDER LIBRARY OF TRES ARROYOS, Buenos Aires Province;
- 2008 FIRST INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK CONGRESS in the NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ARGENTINA;
- from 2008: READING NATIONAL CAMPAIGN / EDUCATION MINISTRY / UNESCO


CLASSES
In the last 10 years, she has been teaching private Picture Book Classes in her Buenos Aires Workshop.
Many argentine illustrators and writers have studied with and trained under Mónica Weiss. And many foreigners too: she had teached to pupils coming from Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, France, Scotland, Chile and Peru.
To find out more about her Picture Books Workshops, please see http://monicaweisstaller.blogspot.com


EXHIBITIONS
Her illustrations have been included in 39 Exhibitions throughout the world, some of them at the following places:
- BOLOGNA’S CHILDRENS BOOK FAIR, Italy;
- BRATISLAVA’S ILLUSTRATION BIENNALE, Slovakia;
- AKISHAGA MUSEUM in TOKYO, Japan;
- MERCADILLO MUSEUM in CÓRDOBA, Argentina;
- DARDO ROCHA CULTURAL CENTER in La Plata;
- PUEYRREDÓN CULTURAL CENTER in Mar del Plata;
- FINE ARTS MUSEUM, in Chaco;
- EXHIBITIONS CENTER in Mendoza;
- TUCUMAN`S CULTURAL CENTER in San Miguel de Tucumán;
- BARILOCHE`S CIVIC CENTER, in Río Negro;

And in the City of Buenos Aires:
- RECOLETA’S CULTURAL CENTER;
- CENTRO MUNICIPAL DE EXPOSICIONES (City Center for Exhibitions);
- LA RURAL;
- Marq / MUSEO DE ARQUITECTURA (Archicture Museum);
- OSDE FOUNDATION;
- PALAIS DE GLACE NATIONAL GALLERY


ART CURATIONS:
- She coordinated the first seven NATIONAL ILLUSTRATOR’S FORUM EXHIBITIONS, such as:
“QUIROGA x 81”, http://www.imaginaria.com.ar/08/2/quiroga.htm
“DE VIAJES Y VIAJEROS” (“Of Trips and Travellers”), http://www.komix.it/page.php?idArt=3299
“CORTÁZAR x EL FORO” (“Cortázar by the Forum”) http://forodeilustradores.com.ar/Cortazar/,
“EL CIRCO ILUSTRADO” (“The Illustrated Circus”) http://elcircoilustrado.blogspot.com/
- In 2007 she was the curator for the “LUGAR NIÑO” Exhibition (“CHILD PLACE” Exhibition) in the Marq, ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM in Buenos Aires; http://www.ramona.org.ar/node/17820
- “WHEN COWS FLY…” 32 argentine illustrators in the 2008 BOLOGNA’S BOOK FAIR, Italy, http://www.forodeilustradores.com/bologna2008 , http://www.criticadigital.com.ar/impresa/index.php?secc=nota&nid=2910
- “WHEN COWS FLY…/BUENOS AIRES” 80 argentine illustrators at the Recoleta Cultural Center, 2008, http://www.redargenta.com.ar/20080902479/novedades/eventos/cuando_las_vacas_vuelan.html ,
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1083383
- 2009/2010 “GALERÍA DE PERSONAJES” (“Gallery of Characters”), at Sandanzas, Buenos Aires. http://muestrasalumnosweiss.blogspot.com


ANOTHER VISUAL WORKS
2005 - She illustrated the MOVIE POSTER for “LA DIGNIDAD DE LOS NADIES” (“Dignity of the nobodies”), a film by Pino Solanas. http://www.labutaca.net/films/41/ladignidaddelosnadies.htm
Cover design and illustrations for 3 music CD’s:
- 1997, “IWANA MASAKI”
- 2006, “AL TUN TUN”
- 2007, “23 CUERDAS”
2006 – She developed the visual stage aspects, the photography and the graphic design for “INSANAS E IMPURAS ESAS TIERRAS” (“Insane and impure those lands”), a theatre-dance piece based on an idea by Silvia Pritz and Mónica Weiss, music by Oscar Edelstein, and presented at the 2007 FESTIVAL DE DANZA CONTEMPORÁNEA DE LA CIUDAD DE BUENOS AIRES (Contemporary Dance Festival of the City of Buenos Aires); 2007 FESTIVAL MAGDALENA / PIEZAS CONECTADAS (Magdalena Festival / Connectes Pieces) in Barcelona, Sala Becket; 2007 and 2008 FESTIVAL 10 AÑOS DE COCOA (Ten Years of Cocoa Festival); and X-PERIENCIAS EN ESCENA (X-Periences in Stage), CENTRO CULTURAL BORGES, Buenos Aires. http://www.alternativateatral.com/ficha_obra.asp?codigo_obra=7326
1999 – Toghether with Claudia Santanera (poet) and Raúl Venturini (musician), and she as a visual artist, presented the Happening CLA-MO-RA at the Museo del Mercadillo en Córdoba, and at the opening of the 6th. CEDILIJ International Children`s Literature in Villa Carlos Paz, Córdoba, Argentina.
2000 – She designed and illustrated the commemorative gifts for the 7th. year of “Generations”, Canela’s cultural program on Radio Nacional AM 8.70 (National Radio).
2006 / 2007 – She designed two 9 meter long murals at the entrance of the Children Book’s Fair of Buenos Aires (“Tribute to Javier Villafañe” and “Pirates”).
2004 – She designed the 10 meter long mural for the Random Mondadori Sudamericana Stand at the Children`s Book Fair of Buenos Aires and the International Book Fair of Buenos Aires.
2006 – She designed the objects, statues, murals and images used in the Random Mondadori Sudamericana Stand dedicated to the launching of her book “VACACIONES DE DINOSAURIO” (“Dinosaur Vacations”) at the Children`s Book Fair of Buenos Aires and the International Book Fair of Buenos Aires.


MEDIA
- In 2007 she anchored a radio program called “EL FRASCO SIN TAPA” (“The Jar without a Top”) and its blocks on illustrated books, in 94.7 FM Palermo, of Buenos Aires.

TV AND RADIO PROGRAMS where Mónica Weiss has been a guest:
EL REFUGIO DE LA CULTURA, reported by Quiroga/Dubatti 1998; GENERACIONES, reported by Canela, Radio Nacional AM 8.70 1998 y 2001; FM LA TRIBU AM 88.7 en 1998; RADIO CULTURA FM 97.9 2001; EL ESPÍRITU DEL SOMORMUJO, reported by Rossana Tovagliari, FM Palermo, 2005; EL PERIODISMO QUE VIENE, TN Channel of Cablevisión TV, 2000; COLECTIVO IMAGINARIO TN Channel of Cablevisión TV, various reports at the International Book Fair of Buenos Aires, 2005 y 2006; RADIO UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CÓRDOBA AM LW1 580, 2007; RADIO TRES ARROYOS, AM 820, 2006; MÚSICA, NOTICIAS Y... reported by Mónica Lis, AM 8.70 Radio Nacional, 2007.

NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES about Mónica Weiss, her books and her institutional work:
Newspapers: Diario CLARÍN, PÁGINA 12, Diario LA RAZÓN, RADAR Libros, Diario CRÍTICA, NUEVAS HOJAS DE LECTURA/Colombia, Revista IMAGIANRIA, BOLETÍN UNICEF/ Argentina, Revista PLANETARIO, El UNIVERSAL/México, Revista LEER EN RED, GACEMAIL/ TEA Imagen, etc. (all can be read in the Internet).

INSTITUTIONS
- She was the General Coordinator of the FORO DE ILUSTRADORES/ARGENTINA (ARGENTINE ILLUSTRATOR’S FORUM) www.forodeilustradores.com from its creation in 1998 until 2005, when she asked for a license, although she continued organizing some of its international and national events such as the “When Cows Fly…/ Argentina Guest of Honour at the 2008 Bologna’s Children Book Fair” http://www.revistaenie.clarin.com/notas/2007/12/07/01559262.html
- She was the Vicepresident of ALIJA (Argentine Section of IBBY), toghether with Alici Salvi, President, and Sandra Comino, Secretary.
- Toghether with Irene Singer and Istvansch, she formed part of the ORGANIZING COMITTE of
“When Cows Fly…/ Argentina Guest of Honour at the 2008 Bologna’s Children Book Fair”.
Besides being in charge of the ORGANIZATION OF THE EVENT between Argentina and Italy for 3 years, she also DESIGNED AND DIRECTED THE ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT for the Argentine Stand at Bologna, as well as was the EDITOR OF THE ARGENTINE ILLUSTRATORS CATALOGUE “When Cows Fly…”, again with Irene Singer and Istvansch.
- She was a member of the ORGANIZING COMITEE of the BUENOS AIRES CHILDRENS BOOK FAIR, from 2004 until 2008.
- She is a member of the UNESCO/NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR READING, from 2008
http://www.territoriodigital.com/nota.aspx?c=8765337102653399

Mónica Weiss lives in Buenos Aires with her daughter and son.