A STATE OF PRINTMAKING
Contemporary and Traditional Print Practices of North Carolina
Greenville, NC — The School of Art and Design presents A State of Printmaking, a major exhibition featuring more than 70 print artists from across North Carolina. The exhibition will be on view in ECU’s School of Art and Design’s Wellington B. Gray Gallery from March 6 through March 27, 2026.
A State of Printmaking highlights the depth, diversity, and innovation of printmaking practices across the state. Hosted by the School of Art and Design at ECU, coordinated by faculty and students in the printmaking area, 114 works by more than 70 print artists included in the exhibition were selected by an esteemed team of co-curators from institutions across North Carolina: Bill Fick (Duke University), Erik Waterkotte and Anna Kenar (UNC Charlotte), Brian Gonzales (NC Central), Beth Grabowski (UNC Chapel Hill), Brandon Sanderson (UNC Pembroke), Ben Billingsley (CFCC), Donald Furst (UNC Wilmington), April Flander (AppState) and Michael Ehlbeck (ECU). Together, these curators bring a broad and inclusive perspective to the selection process, showcasing a wide range of technical approaches, conceptual concerns, and regional voices.
The exhibition underscores printmaking’s dual identity as both a historic discipline rooted in craft and a dynamic contemporary platform for experimentation. Featured works span traditional techniques such as relief, intaglio, lithography, and screen-printing, alongside innovative hybrid and expanded practices that challenge conventional definitions of print and exploration of book and paper making as a print practice.
Co-curators were asked to consider broad primary criteria: artists living / working in North Carolina; work created since the artists’ art school experience; work exploring the possibilities of traditional techniques and applications of printmaking.
In addition to the exhibition, the School of Art and Design will host a series of printmaking events on March 26–28th, 2026, celebrating the statewide print community including artist lectures, demonstrations and reception attended by the print artist in the exhibition. The gathering will feature a closing reception celebration on March 27 from 5:00–8:00 PM in the Wellington B. Gray Gallery. These programs offer opportunities for dialogue, networking, and community engagement among artists, students, and the public.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition: a State of Printmaking
Location: Wellington B. Gray Gallery, School of Art and Design, ECU Greenville, NC
Dates: March 6–27, 2026
Printmaking Events: March 26–28, 2026
Exhibition Closing Reception: March 27, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 PM
Admission: [Free / Open to the Public]
For more information, press inquiries, or interview requests, please contact:
Matthew Egan
Professor, School of Art and Design, College of Fine Arts and Communication, ECU
E: eganm@ecu.edu
P: 252.737.2738