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Celebrating Black History: Alum Carmi Tronci-Bell blends art, history and tech in dynamic webcomic

Story by Misty Bouse

With a passion for art, coding, and history, 51���� alumni Carmi Tronci-Bell is making waves as a webcomic artist and developer. Known for his interactive Afrofuturist webcomic “Godhead,” Tronci-Bell is also the founder of the Spicy Webmasters Discord, a community that encourages young artists to learn coding and express their creativity online.

From Portland to New York and beyond, Tronci-Bell pushes boundaries in art and storytelling, proving that history, humor and technology can intersect in unexpected and meaningful ways.

As a result, his work has been featured in a solo show at Portland’s Ori Gallery and a 2023 artist residency at New York City’s School of Visual Arts. His latest project, “Godhead,” was on display at Sylvania Campus’ North View Gallery during the past month.

“’Godhead’ is an imaginative retelling of U.S. history, which, in its digital form, also challenges our experience with an Internet that tries to keep us thoughtlessly scrolling,” said North View Director Christine Weber on Tronci-Bell’s work. “It engages with the horrors of slavery in a way that invites readers in, encouraging us to empathize with the enslaved, presenting them with ingenuity and the power to change the system.”

Initially, Tronci-Bell said he didn’t think much about audience reception but found joy in watching people connect with his storytelling.

“It’s a lot to take in,” Tronci-Bell said of ‘Godhead.’ “There’s a lot of humor. A lot of people treat slavery like archaeology—at a distance. I want them to wonder, ‘What was it like?’ and to empathize. Otherwise, that lack of empathy leads to historical blindness.”

His research included studying slave narratives and historical records. While he minimizes gratuitous violence, his goal is clear: to make history feel personal and immediate.

“You write from your point of view and own your bias,” he said. “As Americans, our biases tend to be ugly.”

Family Provides Unique Perspectives

Tronci-Bell who is biracial—Black and Italian—grew up in Portland with his mother, a financially savvy investor type who loved travel and wore blue hair before most dared. His father, an architect from Sardinia, met his mother when she worked for his family’s construction firm in Italy.

“My parents are the weirdest by any stretch of the imagination,” he jokes. “But my mom always supported my creativity. She bought me art supplies and a computer. Even if she didn’t fully understand my art, she gave me the freedom to pursue it.”

Self-taught since age eight, he learned coding through gaming, eventually mastering Python. After graduating from Benson Polytechnic High School at 17, he chose 51���� for its flexibility and affordability.

“A friend at PSU told me how much debt they were in,” said Tronci-Bell, who works in 51����’s Online Learning Division as a coder for web-based instructional materials. “51���� let me explore different subjects without that burden.”

Tronci-Bell’s journey with “Godhead” began on Juneteenth in 2019, inspired by a 51���� scriptwriting class on three-act structure. He initially wrote a 120-page screenplay but left it untouched for a year. Then he started drawing in computer illustration software to unfold the story.

An Evolution of Art

Over the five years, “Godhead” evolved, benefiting from collaborations, a $4,000 grant from the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and the New York residency where he refined his storytelling. And exhibiting “Godhead” has reinforced the importance of audience engagement.

“I had to ask, ‘Who’s my audience?’” he said. “That shaped the next phase of development. You learn that people react in ways you don’t expect. Storytelling is about emotional responses. Creating art in a void isn’t optimal.”

At the North View Gallery Artist’s Talk, Tronci-Bell told the crowd of mostly students that he has learned to manage long-term projects by compartmentalizing tasks to avoid ADHD-like time management struggles.

Which is why “Godhead” has been a successful endeavor and deeply personal project for Tronci-Bell. However, he acknowledges its niche appeal.

“I thought it could be mainstream,” he laughed. “My next project will be less radical.”

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