Belgian, b. 1946 Born in Brussels into a dynasty of architects, François Schuiten did not pursue the family trade in the traditional sense, but instead became the preeminent "architect of the page." He made his professional debut at just 17 in the legendary magazine Pilote, alongside titans like Moebius and Druillet. His obsession with the structural integrity of environments would become his artistic signature, most famously realized in the monumental series Les Cités Obscures (The Obscure Cities). Created alongside writer Benoît Peeters, this 25-year project remains one of the most intellectually ambitious works in comics, depicting a parallel world of fantastical urbanism and retro-futuristic technology. Schuiten’s work is characterized by an extraordinary level of technical precision, blending the intricate cross-hatching of 19th-century engravings with a profound understanding of Art Nouveau and industrial design. His influence eventually spilled over from the drawing board into the real world as he transitioned into high-profile scenography. He is the visionary behind the redesign of the Arts et Métiers metro station in Paris—famously transformed into a copper-clad Nautilus—and played a pivotal role in preserving architectural history through the restoration of the Maison Autrique, the first house designed by the Art Nouveau pioneer Victor Horta. A recipient of the Grand Prix de la ville d’Angoulême in 2002, the industry's highest honor, Schuiten has expanded his creative reach into film, animation, and international exhibition design. His ability to build worlds that feel both impossible and structurally plausible has cemented his legacy as a master of the "Ninth Art." Whether designing a fictional metropolis or a physical public space, Schuiten remains a tireless explorer of the relationship between man, his environment, and the beauty of the built world.