Edwin Fontánez is an award-winning artist, author, illustrator, and graphic designer. He is a graduate of the School of Plastic Arts of the Institute of Culture in San Juan, PR. He also holds an Associates degree in Graphic Design from Pratt Institute in New York. From the age of six, Fontánez’s talent began to show itself. When he was small, he drew pictures on the walls of his grandmother Doña Ramona’s house. Fortunately, Fontánez eventually transferred his artistic expression to sketchbooks and canvas. The artistic and literary work of Fontánez is inspired by the themes of nature and animals and characterized by magic and poetry that this talented artist infuses with his creative force. His inspiring books serve as a new and exciting presence in Latin American children’s literature. His newest work is the illustrated YA novel The Illuminated Forest.

Exit Studio Publishing was founded in 1994 by Edwin Fontánez. With the creation of Exit Studio, Edwin Fontánez entered the competitive field of publishing. His goal was to produce imaginative children’s literature that would foster and interest and pleasure in reading. Through Exit Studio, Fontánez has not only published a variety of works of interest to Puerto Rico but has also opened a door to the island’s traditions to the rest of the United States. In addition, Fontánez conducts art workshops in children’s museums across the country, gives presentations in schools and universities, and organizes community activities with such organizations as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.