Pedro X. Molina is an internationally acclaimed political cartoonist who fled his native Nicaragua after the crackdown of the dictatorship on journalists and government critics in 2018. He has been living in the US ever since.
His work in Spanish is published in Confidencial.digital, and his cartoons in English are published in Counterpoint.com and Tinyview.com. They are also syndicated through Tribune Content Agency.
Molina was named the finalist of the Herblock Prize 2024 (USA) and has won a host of prestigious awards for his work, including the Vaclav Havel Award for Creative Dissent (International), the Gabo Award for Excellence in Journalism (Latin America), the Maria Moors Cabot Prize from Columbia University (USA), the Courage in Cartooning Award from Cartoonists Rights Network (International), and the Excellence in Journalism Award granted by the Inter-American Press Association. His work appears in many prestigious newspapers and news websites throughout Latin America, the United States, and Europe.
This is what this year's judges had to say about his portfolio:
From Marty Two Bulls, Sr.:
"Pedro’s drawing abilities are much to be admired. I like his stylized approach to rendering caricatures of the political class, in gross exaggeration, but still managing to be humorously recognizable.
His composition, layouts, color, and dialogue placement are solid. I get the feeling that he cares about the issues he chooses as it is a reflection of his background and sensibilities. I predict the future will bare many great images coming from the pen of Pedro Molina."
From Steve Brodner:
"Pedro Molina is one of most powerful voices in cartooning today. His work is an inspiration in courage at a time when media is running for cover.
He is a master of the form and one of its most important voices.”
From Rob Rogers:
"Pedro Molina embodies the courage in editorial cartooning that defined Herblock's work. Pedro left his home country of Nicaragua to escape government oppression and landed in the US – where he is once again drawing devastating cartoons about government oppression. Pedro brings a bold new voice to U.S. cartooning just when we needed it most."
Herb Block is among the world’s best known and most admired political cartoonists. Born on October 13, 1909, the native Chicagoan spent his 72-year career fighting against abuses of the powerful.