12 June 2025 press release

The Gutenberg Prize of the City of Leipzig for 2025 will be awarded to Leipzig-based artist and illustrator Anna Haifisch. By presenting the award, the City of Leipzig is not only acknowledging the outstanding artistic quality of her work, but also Haifisch’s role as an international ambassador of the city. In connection with the award ceremony, the German Museum of Books and Writing at the German National Library will be showing an exhibition of the prize winner's work between 17 June 2025 and 30 January 2026.

Rodents take centre stage in Anna Haifisch’s internationally acclaimed work that is a confident blend of comic art, drawing, illustration and graphic reproduction. Her works include posters and textiles as well as books as a medium she is particularly passionate about: "I always think in double pages when I'm drawing!"

At the heart of the exhibition is a cross-section of Haifisch's diverse body of work: Comics, graphics, posters and textiles – and of course books. Visitors will be able to read all of the artist's previous publications on site.

In its award statement the committee wrote: “Born in Leipzig in 1986, the comic artist and illustrator Anna Haifisch is one of the stars of Germany's alternative comic scene” (Karoline Bofinger). After studying graphic design and book art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Leipzig, she undertook advanced studies with Thomas M. Müller. In 2013 she was involved in establishing the ‘The Millionaires Club’ comic festival that takes place at the same time as the Leipzig Book Fair and provides comics with an international stage in Leipzig.

Since 1959, the City of Leipzig’s Gutenberg Prize, bestowed in memory of Johannes Gutenberg, has been used to honour people and institutions that – according to the Prize’s statutes – “have shown merit through their outstanding, exemplary efforts to promote book art”. It has been awarded every other year since 1993, alternating annually with the City of Mainz’s prize of the same name. The German Museum of Books and Writing is a member of the jury. Haifisch is the first comic artist to receive the Gutenberg Prize. The award ceremony is taking place in Leipzig’s 2025 theme year in which the city’s role as a city of books is highlighted based on the motto “More Than a Story”.

Anna Haifisch is also a guest contributor in episode 5 of the German Museum of Books and Writing’s podcast “Augenrausch”.Ratatouille. Gutenberg-Preis der Stadt Leipzig 2025 für Anna Haifisch

Ratatouille. 2025 Gutenberg Prize of the City of Leipzig goes to Anna Haifisch
Showcase exhibition in the German Museum of Books and Writing of the German National Library in Leipzig
17 June 2025 to 30 January 2026

Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00
Thursday 10:00 to 20:00
Public holidays 10:00 to 18:00 (except 24 to 26 December, 31 December and 1 January)
Closed on Mondays
Admission free

More Information

about the exhibition and Anna Haifisch: https://www.dnb.de/EN/gutenbergpreis2025

about  the podcast Augenrausch: https://www.dnb.de/EN/Ueber-uns/DBSM/Augenrausch/augenrausch.html

about the Theme year 2025 "More than a story.": Theme year 2025: More than a story. Book City Leipzig - City of Leipzig

Background

The German National Library collects, documents and archives all written publications and sound recordings issued in Germany since 1913 together with works in German and about Germany published worldwide; it then makes them available to the public. It offers a comprehensive range of services at its sites in Leipzig and Frankfurt am Main along with digital services that can be accessed all over the world insofar as this is permitted by copyright.

The German National Library also holds extensive special collections of inestimable value in the German Exile Archive 1933–1945 and the German Museum of Books and Writing. It regularly organises readings, exhibitions, presentations and concerts to draw attention to its treasures and promotes a culture of books, reading and music with a diverse programme of events.

The German National Library welcomes donations to support its work. Whether for general purposes or specifically for the areas of education, collections, cultural programmes and research - donations help us preserve our national cultural heritage, educate our public in the fields of science and culture, and kindle their enthusiasm. Any support helps!

www.dnb.de/EN/engagement

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Images for editorial use

Press image material is only available in German.