The Artists’ Press celebrates 25 years with a Limited Edition Print Pop Up Shop. In collaboration with many of South Africa’s most acclaimed artists.
25 Years of The Artists’ Press – Limited Edition Print Pop Up Shop featured prints from close to 50 artists. Including new works from Sibonelo Chiliza, Anton Kannemeyer, Willem Boshoff, Karin Daymond, Colbert Mashile, Walter Oltmann and Judith Mason.
A highlight of the event was the lunchtime conversation between artist Sam Nhlengethwa and Mark Attwood. The conversation explored the unique collaboration between two leaders in their fields.
Sam Nhlengethwa’s relationship with The Artists’ Press extends over a significant period of time. “My first experience of working with Mark at The Artists’ Press was in 1994 when I was the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year,” comments the internationally renowned artist. “From that first experience on I have never looked back. I fell in love with lithography and the press. The atmosphere at The Artists’ Press is relaxed with a high standard of professionalism.”
Mark Attwood is central to it being the first choice print shop for a diverse array of brilliant artists. He is the first African to qualify from the globally renowned Tamarind Master Printer programme in the USA. Attwood’s skills and ability to work collaboratively with artists ensure consistently full bookings for The Artists’ Press. Along with its uniquely versatile printing process to further ensure its ranking amongst the best in the world.
Watching artists that we work with going from strength to strength is among the many highlights of the past 25 years. It also gives us great pleasure to think back on all the fantastic working relationships that we have developed with fellow printmakers, artists, collectors and galleries. The fruits of which will be on sale at the pop-up shop.
Since 1991, The Artists’ Press has worked with 119 artists on a remarkable 956 print editions. Including William Kentridge Learning the Flute (2004), which is the biggest print to have emerged from the studio’s collaborative hand printing process. Other highlights include collaborating with Conrad Botes on 32 editions, of which 12 are sold out. As well as working with San artists (from the Kuru Art Project) on the artists book, Qauqaua. The first book written in the Naro language as told by the artists themselves and illustrated by them.
25 Years of The Artists’ Press – Limited Edition Print Pop Up Shop
The perfect way for new, emerging and established art lovers to add to their fine art collection. Burgeoning artists were able to try their hand at letterpress printing with free sessions being run by Impressed Craft Bindery & Letterpress Studio. The artist Fiona Pole also ran a free drawing workshop, and children learned how to do simple bookbinding while participating in a printing workshop.
All images are courtesy of The Artists’ Press.
