Moore College of Art and Design opened a new student run gallery as part of the One Book, One Philadelphia Graphic Art Contest this past Friday, Feb. 12.

The contest winners are as follows:

First Place Winner, Stephanie Zuppo ’12, Second Place Winner, Jessica Lange ’13 and Third Place Winner, Kelsey Ranallo ’11.

The contest guidelines and requirements asked that the artwork be black and white, narrative and memoir in style. All works were also required to be inspired by Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, "The Complete Persepolis."

Satrapi’s work is a two-part autobiographical graphic novel that recalls her childhood in Iran and adolescence in Europe. Her story takes place during and after the Islamic Revolution.

All of the winners major in Illustration and are students at the Moore College of Art. Each winner received a copy of The Complete Persepolis and a gift card for Utretcht Art Supplies.

The contest was created and run by Moore College sophomore, Cara Scudner.

The brainchild of both the contest and gallery, Scudner came up with the idea while interning at the Free Library of Philadelphia as part of Moore’s Emerging Leaders in the Arts (ELA) program.

Along with her advisor, Gerri Trooskin, Scudner came up with the idea of running an event for One Book, One Philadelphia (OBOP) program. As this year’s OBOP book is The Complete Persepolis, the idea of having a contest inspired by Satrapi’s work was born.

“Philadelphia is this deep well of upcoming artistic talent. I wanted to create a contest that could showcase some of this talent,” said Scudner.

Having read the graphic novel herself, Scudner found it fitting that the Philadelphia One Book be the focus of the contest held at her college, the first and only women’s visual arts college in the nation.

“My hope was that students would be inspired by the autobiographical style of Persepolis and emulate that in their artwork,” said Scudner.

Along with the opportunity to read the graphic novel, Scudner was able to expose her fellow students to Satrapi’s works by showing them the corresponding film, Persepolis.

“I hope that as students walk through the gallery on their way to class they will stop and look at the work and perhaps be inspired to read the book,” said Scudner. “I found The Complete Persepolis to be a very enjoying and inspiring read. It really made me think a lot about the life I have now and how lucky I am.”

From now through earth March, students and the public will have the chance to view the works of the very talented contest entrants on the fourth floor of Wilson Hall.

Click here to view photos from Friday’s opening and take a look at the winners, contestants and art!