RAID Gallery & Cafe
Founded in 2002, the Royal Academy of Illustration & Design (R.A.I.D.) began as a shared studio space between friends Chip Zdarsky, Ben Shannon, Kagan McLeod, and Cameron Stewart — four artists eager to carve their place in the world of comics and illustration. What started as a creative refuge quickly evolved into a thriving collective, home to some of the industry’s top talent in comics and sequential art.
Over the years, R.A.I.D. has welcomed a diverse roster of resident artists, including Kalman Andrasofszky, Karl Kerschl, Andy Belanger, Scott Hepburn, Cary Nord, Marcus To, Paul Rivoche, Francis Manapul, and Ramón K Pérez. Some stayed briefly, others made it their long-term creative home. With each new voice, the collective continues to grow as a place for artists to learn, collaborate, and inspire one another.
In 2018, R.A.I.D. expanded into a new, purpose-built headquarters at 1720 Queen Street West in Parkdale, Toronto—marking the next chapter in its evolution as a multidisciplinary hub for creators of all kinds.