Chad in Amsterdam

Chad Bilyeu (1975)

Writer, photographer, art director and historian, Chad Bilyeu was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. His first visit to Amsterdam took place in March 2000 and in the following years he returned to Amsterdam where he discovered that the city has much more to offer than just coffee shops.

In 2009, Bilyeu decided to move to Amsterdam to pursue a master's degree in American Studies. His love for the city has ensured that he still lives in Amsterdam now, fifteen years later.

Comics

In 2018, he started his comic book series called Chad in Amsterdam. This self-published comic book series was well received internationally and ensured that the Amsterdam publisher Scratch Books released the complete series in hardcover in 2023.

The stories are funny but also authentic. They provide insight into the way newcomers see the city but also hold a mirror up to Amsterdam itself. These are every day, often almost clichéd, events in the Amsterdam Red Light District, the bicycle depot or just anywhere in the city. His stories are depicted by talented illustrators who have also lived in Amsterdam for a short or long time.

The exhibition can be seen from April 18 to June 30, 2024, in the Red Salon of the Grachtenmuseum.