Lex Kartanė

Hi, I’m Lex Kartanė (they/them), a disabled queer artist and zine maker based in Berlin. My work explores themes of disability, neurodiversity, queerness, autism, gender diversity, and the human–animal connection. I create zines, art prints, pins, and postcards rooted in my personal experience and a drive for inclusion and care.

Zine-making is at the heart of my practice. An accessible, DIY medium that allows me to share stories, challenge ableism, and connect with others in an intimate and honest way. My zines often blend hand-drawn illustrations with direct, vulnerable writing. They are not about polished perfection, but about story telling, survival, and self-expression outside of normative systems.

Through my work, I aim to build space for reflection, recognition, and solidarity, especially for those who have been excluded or misunderstood.

You can find my work online:
https://aiwsart.etsy.com
My website:
https://www.AIWS.LT/
Or on my instagram @6AIWS

Lex Kartane, Unconventional autistic survival guide, © Lex Kartane

A close-up photo of multiple handmade zines stacked and overlapping. The zine in the center is titled "unconventional: the AUTISTIC survival toolkit in neurotypical world by Lex". The cover has a black-and-white hand-drawn design of concentric, organic-looking contour lines surrounding the text. At the bottom, it reads: "not about assimilating but staying true to yourself". The surrounding zines show similar covers, creating a visually textured pattern.

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Lex's table set up,

A colourful and cozy zine market table display. A variety of handmade zines and illustrated mini-books are neatly arranged, with titles like "a bit about autism," "random thoughts about STIMMING," and "i'm NOT your next fucking charity project." Each has a unique, hand-drawn cover style. Several pin badges are scattered on the black tablecloth. Behind the display sits a beagle dog (Ragis) wearing a red plaid scarf, calmly watching from behind the table. His presence adds warmth and personality to the scene.

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A collection of zines spread across a textured blanket. The central zine is titled "dog in the HOSPITAL – zine by Lex – based on a true story". The cover features a hand-drawn hospital building with a dog standing in front, surrounded by dot patterns. Inside pages are partially visible and show illustrations and text describing how the dog, Ragis, supported Lex during their hospital stay. One page mentions how Ragis was included in therapy sessions and motivated Lex, with stars and circles decorating the layout.

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