Leah Hayes

Interim Instructor

Leah Hayes Standing with Arms crossed in stairwell

Leah Hayes is an illustrator, writer, producer, and graphic novelist. She has published several graphic novels with Fantagraphics Books, including Funeral of the Heart, Holy Moly, and her latest work, Not Funny Ha-Ha, which was voted one of the "Top Ten Graphic Novels Of The Year" by Forbes as well as being a New York Times Best-Seller. Hayes's editorial illustrations make regular appearances in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Newsweek, McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, and many other publications. She is working on her newest graphic novel, and has most recently begun a live-action adaptation of Not Funny Ha-Ha for network television.

After graduating from Parsons School of Design, Hayes returned as adjunct faculty in the Illustration Department, staying on for nearly ten years. After Parsons, she then went on to teach Illustration at Mass College of Art, Endicott College, and is now faculty at Lesley University. Hayes has also taught Graphic Novel Writing, Animation, Figure Drawing, and Typography at various times.

In addition to being an illustrator, Hayes is also a musician and producer, and has written many songs for pop, and hip-hop artists including Lil' Wayne, Dillion Francis, and others.