Raty Syka

Raty Syka (they/she), aka NUMPIE, is a comic artist and illustrator based in Santa Cruz, CA. With a background in sociocultural anthropology, folklore, and American Studies, Numpie makes comics and visual projects based on ethnographic research. Collaborative works highlight stories of agriculture in California – from the sustainable to the surprising. Raty has also served as a cooperative kitchen worker-owner, an academic advisor for undergraduate art students, and is a proud 4-H alum. Current projects-in-motion include exploring narratives of equine evacuation during the 2020 CZU fires in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, and highlighting experiences of goat/sheep grazing for fire reduction throughout California.