Watching master printers at work at Graphic Studio in Tampa, and struggling to create a respectable photogravure during art school, gave me a lifelong respect for the art of printmaking. Stemming from ancient Chinese woodblocks and a Medieval technique of decorating armor, the process of etching images onto metal plates and rolling them through a press revolutionized art. The ability to produce multiples from a single image made art accessible to a broader audience and foreshadowed the visual explosion brought on by the internet. Etchings by Dürer and Rembrandt, and poetic landscapes by Hiroshige and Hokusai, led to avant-garde silkscreens by Rauschenberg and Warhol, and contemporary woodcuts by Kentridge and Saar. These days, the plate is often replaced by a high-resolution file, and the roller press by a digital printer delicately squirting ink onto the page, but the emphasis on detail, tone, and consistency remains.
The work in this year’s penultimate exhibition, Home for the Holidays, was produced by Sugar Press Art, a bespoke studio in Los Angeles run by artist, curator, and publisher Anne Martin. Created from sustainable materials and printed on recycled paper made from sugarcane, this stunning selection of limited-edition prints offers a mix of figurative and abstract imagery by cutting-edge artists from California and beyond. Bursting with color and light, these vivid museum-quality prints dance on the page. Lush natural and urban landscapes, and studies in line, color, and form interact with surreal still lifes and portraits of Bad Bunny, Muhammad Ali, John Lewis, and the Notorious B.I.G. Offering welcome relief from the dark months of winter, this medley of affordable artwork comes just in time for the holidays.
View Home for the Holidays, then scroll down for details about the artists and their work.
Altered Realities
“Planet Glow,” Carly Ealey’s reflective image of a woman contemplating celestial bodies, reflects her interest in spirituality, the human condition, and their connection to the natural world. “Poetry of Longing,” a dreamy landscape by Noëmi Manser and Mahya Shamai, explores what happens when planes of existence collide. “Gemini,” Sma Litzsinger’s electrifying image of two women dancing under the stars, invites viewers to join them in their bliss. In the evocative streetscape “Jesus Saves,” Gregory Clewlow combines a unique point of view with shadows and text from a neon sign to make a layered commentary on the complexity of urban life. Izinfinite’s futuristic landscape “Desert Eyes” merges ancient cultures with sci-fi and solar punk. “Indigo Dreams” by LNY Lunar New Year and Johnny Quintanilla’s "Masked On” address immigration and pandemic-related themes of belonging, identity, and alienation.
Notable Figures
Matthew Ehrmann’s dynamic portrait of Muhammad Ali puts a Pop Art spin on a beloved sports and civil rights icon. Haydee Escobar’s portrait of Bad Bunny and Amanda Lynn’s close-up of a woman’s face from a street mural incorporate tropical elements to add context and depth. Graffiti artist CES shares a glimpse of his work on train cars in his larger-than-life portrait of the Notorious B.I.G. Using augmented reality and an Instagram filter, Franceska Gamez offered viewers a chance to scan a QR code and discover hidden elements in "Visions of Mary.” “Walking With the Wind,” a tribute to the late John Lewis by Anthroe, refers to Lewis’ metaphor for withstanding adversity and creating positive change. M. Sherwood Brock and Juana Alicia advocate for civil liberties and women’s rights in “We the People” and "Don't Look Back.”
Flora and Fauna
Katie Ruiz and Emily Tanaka use splashes of color and layers of flora and fauna to impart a lush resonance to “Back to the Source, Into the Ether,” and “Mourning Doves.” Referring to the slang word for jellyfish, and focusing on movement, texture, and form, Erin Yoshi merges figurative imagery with abstraction in “Feeling Jelly, Agua Mala.” "You are the Phantom,” from a series of wasteland narratives by Camille Rose Garcia, combines surrealist symbolism with pop culture references to critique a society in a state of decline. Influenced by street art and classical oil painting, Francesca Quintano adds hints of Goya and Kahlo to her surreal still life "Mulier Auream.” Combining a fist with a dove, Robyn Janz Sully advocates for resistance and harmony in "Peace Will Be,” a tribute to gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson.
Form, Color, and Line
Gregory Clewlow’s mesmerizing “Spring Eclipse” and Jim TAZ Evans’ explosive “Twombly Arithmetica” have a psychedelic energy that draws the viewer in and makes it difficult to look away. “Power,” Chris Rocket’s neon image of a clenched fist, “Lowrider,” KEN’s pulsating view of a retro sedan, and David Schwartz’s jewel-like boom box, “Rhyme Capsule Red,” emphasize color and edges to create a Pop Art effect. Weaving glimpses of creatures with bubbles and botanical forms, KJ and Rafael Serrano create living tapestries in “Here Fishy, Fishy” and “Garden of Earthly Delights.” Channeling Klee’s whimsical figures, Andrea Bogdan uses color and motion in “When Friends Help” to capture our unique life spark. Skateboarder Steve Alba shares his obsession with backyard pools in his Hockney-esque “Pool Rules #2.”
All images published with permission of the artist(s); featured graphic for Home for the Holidays by David Schwartz.