Exhibition - Atelier 17: A Legacy of Modernist Printmaking

Friday, Mar 29, 2024
Flint Institute Of Arts
1120 East Kearsley Street
810-234-1695

In 1927 artist Stanley William Hayter opened an experimental printmaking school and studio in Paris. Located on 17 rue Campagne-Première, it became known as Atelier 17 (French for workshop). Unlike other studios at the time, Hayter emphasized collaboration between artists and urged them to explore experimental and innovative printmaking techniques. The studio was open for sixty years and during that time the artists who worked there pushed the boundaries of printmaking. The art of engraving was revitalized, new developments in etching were explored, and the printing process was revolutionized. One of the major achievements of the studio was viscosity printing, a method that uses multiple inks of different consistencies on a single plate. This method allowed for endless color variations and artistic experimentation.

The technical experimentation that Hayter fostered at Atelier 17 put the workshop in the vanguard of a development that was to become increasingly important in 20th century art. This exhibition includes artists who studied at the Atelier during their career, focusing on artworks made with the new techniques that were developed out of the studio.

Location: Graphics Gallery at Flint Institute Of Arts.