Printopia Festival brings together artists from Aotearoa and the Asia Pacific to share their passion and knowledge of contemporary printmaking at West Auckland’s Corban Estate Arts Centre, from 2 – 4 May 2025.

Aotearoa’s largest Print Fair features a packed schedule of workshops, artist presentations and drop-in print sessions. Printopia outlines some of the most anticipated highlights from the event below:

OPENING NIGHT

On Opening Night visitors will be the first to explore the stunning selection of original prints at the Print Fair from more than 40 exhibitors from all corners of the country as well as Australia, The Philippines and the US.

The Opening Night event will feature special guests À la Poupée & the Chine-Collés, a group of printmakers and musicians live and direct from the US, giving a sensational performance of their print themed songs. Gig posters of the show will be screen-printed live on the night for visitors to take home with them as a souvenir.

PRINT FAIR AND LIVE PRINTING

The Print Fair invites visitors to start or expand their print collection, an affordable way to collect original art. Collectors and appreciators of handmade prints will have the chance to meet the artists and discover the inspiration and process behind each handmade print.

Live printing sessions will give visitors of all ages the chance to flex their creative muscle. Facilitated by a team of experienced artists and passionate volunteers, visitors can print and bind their own notebook using an antique letterpress machine with Inkiana Press and The Association of Book Crafts, design a unique mini masterpiece using Lego Dots with Persian Dot Press and give a pre-loved item of clothing a new lease of life with silk-screen master Artisan Screen Prints.

WORKSHOPS

Printopia Festival is proud to present an exciting selection of workshops by a diverse range of emerging and established artists. Visiting from the US, Ryan O’Malley will facilitate a collaborative, screen-printing workshop Bangers ‘n’ Mashups suitable for all levels. Another festival highlight is Exploring Whakapapa in Print, a workshop by established, senior Māori printmaker Gabrielle Belz.

For those looking to enhance their skills in woodblock printing, Advanced Multiblock Printmaking: Mastering Precision, Textures, and Layers, led by award winning artist Graham Hall, will develop a comprehensive understanding of the exciting possibilities of the medium. Ideas in Action, facilitated by experienced artist and creative professional Deborah Crowe, will explore processes for generating, developing, and articulating ideas in and about creative practice. Alternative print techniques are explored in Creative Depth: Delving into Silk Aquatint, a non-toxic method with Judy Gordon, and Emerging Print Lab presents the exciting intersection of traditional printmaking techniques and cutting-edge 3D printing technology with Hamish Oakley-Browne of Te Kowhai Print Trust and Kim Newall of AwhiWorld.

From the other side of the Pacific, Chilean visual artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Romina Ortega Mella, will lead a workshop on Silk Screen Essentials, and Eduardo Sanchez Ojeda, a visual artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, based in Kirikiriroa, will guide workshop participants through a comprehensive introduction to the visual language of Paper Embossing.

ARTIST PRESENTATIONS

Artist Presentations provide a space to engage in important discussion surrounding print theory, practice and research. This year’s keynote speaker is international artist and educator Ryan O’Malley from the US, will share his experiences traveling to print communities across vast geographical and cultural landscapes with the intention to connect, educate, and inspire. Toi Whakaata Māori Print Collective artists; Alexis Neal, Faith McManus, Vanessa Wairata-Edwards, Gabrielle Belz and Jasmine Horton will build on concepts of Whakawhanaungatanga—connections and relationships by speaking to their experiences and connections abroad.

In Casting the Net, Graham Hall will present the multiple benefits of participating in global print events and exhibitions, and Paora Tiatoa returns to share his recent trip to the British Museum to visit the Taonga that have significantly influenced his work, and the impact this has had on his current practice.

Closer to home, Te Tai Tokerau gallerist Megan Dickinson will share her expert insights and industry knowledge to demystify the process of presenting work to a gallery, followed by a panel discussion by three mid-career, female printmakers who successfully navigate multiple artistic disciplines with printmaking at the core of their practices: Annie Smits Sandano, Belinda Griffiths, and Kylie Rusk.

A Conversation Toward the Idea of the Printerly, is a reading group facilitated by the Senior Technician in Print at Elam School of Fine Arts Steve Lovett where the audience is invited to participate in a lively and insightful discussion of selected readings exploring the idea of the printerly.