Print Studio

Listen to the podcast that Hello, Print Friend did with us

Sustainabilty at The Artists' press (video)

Outreach Projects

Print Archive

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Useful Information About Prints and Printing

Original Prints are Original Artworks

Investing in Prints

Collaboration in Printmaking Explained

Print Care

How to Handle Original Prints

How to Pack a Print in a Tube

How to Pack Prints Flat

The Artists' Press Gallery (A to L by Surname)

The Artists' Press Gallery (M to X by Surname)

Archive of Sold Out Prints from The Artists' Press

A Bit of Our History...

In 1991 The Artists' Press print studio opened its doors in Newtown, Johannesburg, under the direction of Tamarind Master Printer, Mark Attwood. The print studio started as a lithography studio providing artists in southern Africa with a workshop dedicated to the production of limited edition hand printed lithographs. Since its inception, the press has grown steadily and today offers a variety of print processes to artists as well as publishing and selling original prints and artists' books via this website. In 2003 The Artists' Press relocated to a farming area just outside of White River in Mpumalanga, South Africa. In the purpose-built print studio, the press now offers lithography, letterpress, mono printing and relief printing.

Mark Attwood is the director of the studio and is the Master Printer. He has worked in the printing field since 1981, apprenticing in his father's print shop (The Broederstroom Press), and later trained in hand printing at Lowick House Print Workshop (UK) and at The Tamarind Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (USA). Jacky Tsila, from Hazyview, is the edition printer and was trained by Tamarind Master Printer Jill Graham. Tamar Mason is co-director of the print studio and focuses on marketing. From time to time recently qualified master printers work at the press, which serves to keep us up to date with international trends and provides the visiting printers with the opportunity to gain experience in a professional print shop. To date, the following Tamarind Master Printers have worked with us: Leshoka Legate (RSA), Lee Turner (UK), Sarah Dudley (Canada), Ulrich Kuehle (Germany) and Jill Graham (Canada). Printer Todd Anderson (USA) who has worked at Tandem Press print studio has also assisted us as well as Rwandan refugee John Taouss. To take a look at the work that Ulrich does, visit: Keystone Editions to see the workshop that Lee turner has established in the UK look here Hole Editions

The Artists' Press is a small print studio dedicated to offering artists the very best in personal attention. All work printed at the studio is done by hand. We use acid-free paper and the most light-fast inks available, taking the utmost care to ensure that the work is of the highest possible standard. We continually strive to improve the quality of our prints. All editions are carefully curated and documented. Once editions have been printed and signed, the plate or stone is defaced thereby preserving the integrity of the edition and ensuring that no second editions can be printed. Documentation sheets are available, on request, for all editions printed at the studio.

The print studio has been internationally recognised for its contribution to developing the culture of printmaking in Africa. The studio has initiated and taken part in a number of exciting international and regional projects. These have included collaborations with the Kuru Art Project (Botswana). Most notable of these is the publication of Qauqaua (the first book written in a San language, as told by the San and illustrated by San artists and bound in traditionally tanned goatskin). Qauqaua was selected in 2001 for the Voyages Exhibition of the Smithsonian Institute Libraries and was listed by the Grolier Book Club as one of the top ten highlights of the exhibition.

The Ultimate Safari, a short story written by Nobel Prize laureate Nadine Gordimer, was illustrated by Mozambican refugees living in South Africa and poignantly illustrates the need for peace and co-operation as a prerequisite for development.

The studio uses one chop: TAP which are the initials of The Artists' Press. These have been assembled to reflect the form of a hand litho press as seen from the side. All prints produced at the studio are embossed with this chop.

Listen to Mark Attwood talking about how he started The Artists' Press and the importance of printmaking in South Africa on this podcast put together by Pine Copper Lime in 2021.

Watch a video (click here) of Mark Attwood talking about the studio at Tamarind's 50th Birthday Bash in 2010.

For details about how the studio works take a look at this video made by The Tamarind Institute (USA) in 2017

How we select the artists that we work with in the print studio

Artists whose original prints are available from us are carefully selected and individuals who are published by The Artists' Press are published by invitation only. We focus on southern Africa and strive to publish work which reflects the diverse experiences of the region and which is of the highest artistic integrity. The art world of South Africa is dynamic and covers all the contemporary fine art genres. We work with professionals who have successfully exhibited work of a consistently high standard and who are among the top South African artists. They are selected in terms of the high standard of their work and not because they follow a particular school, the emphasis being on excellence rather than a specific style. This means that the work available from our print studio is diverse and is a reflection of the variety of work available in South Africa as well as representing the conceptual concerns of South African artists. These vary from work that analyses contemporary social and political issues, abstract landscapes to the human figure and language.

Once a year we work with a relatively unknown practitioner, often people who would be considered "outsider artists". This is in line with our aim of introducing people to printmaking and of assisting those who are on the fringe of the contemporary art scene in South Africa. These projects are exciting as one is dealing with the unknown and the coming together of technique and creativity in an inspired way.

Work published by The Artists' Press and available from us via this website includes artists' books, portfolios of prints and single prints.

Work printed by The Artists' Press can be found in numerous private and corporate collections around the world. Public collections include: The Smithsonian Institute, The National Gallery of Australia, Tate Modern (London), Bodleian Library (Oxford University), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), The Victoria and Albert Museum (London), US Library of Congress, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam), University of the Witwatersrand Gallery Collection, Botswana National Museum and Art Gallery, South African National Archive, Museum of Modern Art (New York), University of Cape Town, The Art Institute of Chicago (USA), Winterthur Library (Switzerland), Durban Art Gallery, University of Johannesburg and Yale University (USA).

For information about prints and for other print related sites please go to the links listed above.

Litho stones waiting to be grained.

Jacky Tsila graining stones.

Mark Attwood working on a project for William Kentridge.

Artists Who Have Worked at The Artists' Press

The following artists have made editions of prints at The Artists' Press print studio, to see the work you can go to the artists pages or take a look at our archive pages:

Adams, Albert (RSA/UK)
Alborough, Alan (RSA)
Arnott, Lauryn (Zimbabwe/Australia)
Attwood, Simon (RSA)
Avery, Eric (USA)
Bailey, Beezy (RSA)
Bambo, Lucas (RSA)
Bell, Deborah (RSA)
Berens, Georgina. (RSA)
Berman, Kim (RSA)
Beck, Paola (RSA)
Benadé, Hanneke (RSA)
Bertram, Henning (Germany)
Bezabih, Behailu (Ethiopia)
Bickle, Berry (Zimbabwe)
Blignaut, Belinda (RSA)
Bob, Coex'ae (Botswana)
Böröcz, Andras (USA)
Boshoff, Willem (RSA)
Botes, Conrad (RSA)
Botha, Elza (RSA)
Brenner, Joni (RSA)
Carimbwe, Julietta (RSA)
Carimbwe, Katunga (RSA)
Catherine, Norman (RSA)
Cao, Sara (Botswana)
Chiliza, Sibonelo (RSA)
Clarke-Brown, Gabriel (RSA)
Coco, Koaba (Botswana)
Corneille (Belgium/France)
Daymond, Karin (RSA)
Deanin-Abbey, Rita (USA)
Delaney, James (RSA)
Diedericks, Chris (RSA)
Dikuanga, Joao (RSA)
Dikuanga, Zurietta (RSA)
Dumville, Anthony (RSA)
Faith 47 (RSA)
Frier, Gary (RSA)
GAP (France)
Geers, Kendell (Belgium/RSA)
Gregory, Joy (UK)
Goje, Sandile (RSA)
Hattingh, Flip (RSA)
Heiser, Roswitha (Germany)
Hibbert, Erika (RSA)
Hurwitz, Harry (USA)
Hodgins, Robert (RSA)
Jali, Thami (RSA)
Kase, Thamae (Botswana)
Kannemeyer, Anton (RSA)
Kehew, Elaine (USA/Kenya)
Kennedy, Espoir (Burundi)
Kentridge, William (RSA)
Khoza, Banele (RSA/Eswatini)
Koloane, David (RSA)
Kruger, Marieke (RSA)
Kwami Atta (Ghana)
Ledimo, Moleleki Frank (RSA)
Legae, Ezrom (RSA)
Letlape, Philemon (RSA)
Lipkin, Eileen (RSA)
Louw, Johann (RSA)
Mabaso, Dumisani (RSA)
Makwena, Ditiro (Botswana)
Malemane, Sello (RSA)
Mangana, Qwaa (Botswana)
Manthosi, Alsetah (Mozambique/RSA)
Marais, Eugenie (RSA)
Mashile, Colbert (RSA)
Mason, Judith (RSA)
Mason, Tamar (RSA)
Masuku, Aletah (Mozambique/RSA)
Mautloa, Patrick (RSA)
Mntambo, Nandipha (RSA)
Moore, John (RSA)
Motswai, Tommy (RSA)
Msimang, Selby (RSA)
Nagel, Sybilla (RSA)
Naude, Andre (RSA)
Ncokg'o, Qgoma (Botswana)
Ndala, Freciano (RSA)
Ndinisa, Roy (RSA)
Neethling, Jan (RSA)
Ngomane, Dorah (Mozambique/RSA)
Nigrini, Michelle (RSA)
Nkotsi, Tony (RSA)
Nkuna, Thomas (RSA)
Nhlengethwa, Sam (RSA)
Deborah Nodder (RSA/Germany)
Ntcox'o, Cg'ose (Botswana)
Oltmann, Walter (RSA)
Penn, Richard (RSA)
Penn, Robyn (RSA)
Pole, Fiona (RSA)
Pfrunder, George (Switzerland)
Qgam, Coex'ae (Dada) (Botswana)
Qaetcao, Moses (Botswana)
Qhomatca, Nxaedom (Botswana)
Qhomatca, Xgaiga (Botswana)
Ractliff, Jo (RSA)
Romm, Nina (RSA)
Schonfeldt, Joachim (RSA)
Schreuders, Claudette (RSA)
Scott, Richard (RSA)
Sebidi, Mmakgabo Helen (RSA)
Setshogo, Thamae (Botswana)
Shipipa, Flai (RSA)
Sihlali, Durant (RSA)
Siopis, Penny (RSA)
Smith, Kathryn (RSA)
Stopforth, Paul (RSA/USA)
Taase, Nc'abe (Botswana)
Tcega, Jan (Botswana)
Tcuixgao, Xaga (Botswana)
Thekiso, Winston (RSA)
Torr, Nina (RSA)
Tshabu, Kg'akg'am (Botswana)
Van den Berg, Clive (RSA)
Van der Merwe, Strijdom (RSA)
Verhoef, Toon (Netherlands)
Victor, Diane (RSA)
Xaba, Nhlanhla (RSA)
X'are, Xgaoc'o (Botswana)

Print Studio

A Bit of Our History...

How we select the artists that we work with in the print studio

Artists Who Have Worked at The Artists' Press

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