Explore tradition while embracing experimentation. Develop your personal voice, vision, and practice through our printmaking program.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Major
121
4 Years
PNCA Campus
Display work in printmaking studios, student-run galleries, and First Thursday events. Senior Thesis is another opportunity to install work in a gallery setting. Students also present to a panel of PNCA faculty and learn through courses, projects, and even Master Printer Visits.
Our printmaking majors have become exhibiting artists, printers in top studios, educators, writers, and creative directors. They've also enrolled in prestigious graduate schools. Learn how PNCA students have impacted the art world.
Indigenous artwork and Google
Angelica Trimble-Yanu BFA'19, whose work centers on Indigenous knowledge and sustainability, was commissioned by Google to design art for its new flagship store, blending traditional printmaking with AI technology.
A pathway to multiple opportunities
Vanessa Kauffman Zimmerly '09, a writer, editor, and visual artist, holds an MA in Visual and Critical Studies and works at Kelsey Street Press and Art Practical, while also co-running the collaborative publishing project Volumes Volumes.
Our diverse faculty of artists and master printers support student growth technically, formally, materially, and conceptually. An on-site print studio manager offers guidance and advice. Students can also utilize a network of print shops, master printers, visiting artists, and galleries.
Yoshihiro Kitai, Assistant Professor of Printmaking at PNCA, combines Western abstraction and Japanese metal leafing in his work, reflecting his perspective as a foreigner in the U.S. With an MFA from Washington University and a BFA from PNCA, his art is featured in various public and private collections.
Emily Ginsburg, Chair of BFA Programs at PNCA, explores behavioral patterns through diverse media in her conceptually driven work. Her art, exhibited and commissioned internationally, bridges psychology, sociology, and design, enriching her teaching.
Rory Sparks enriches student success through innovative projects in printmaking, bookmaking, and craft. By challenging traditional definitions of publication and archive, she fosters creativity and critical thinking, emphasizing hands-on skills and community engagement in her teaching.
PNCA focuses on a rich, interdisciplinary studio art experience. Students will explore intaglio, lithography, relief printing, screen printing, monotype, letterpress, book-making, artist publications, and digital and 3D printing. While some courses focus on tradition, others introduce newer methods. Major in printmaking to define your creative practice.
Explore the vibrant techniques of screen printing, relief printing, intaglio, and fabric dyeing on textiles. Engage with hands-on projects, expert-led demonstrations, and discussions. Create your unique printed fabrics for apparel, interior design, and art installations.
Blur the lines between traditional and original printmaking. Explore the possibilities of integrating print with 3D objects, and time-based media. Utilize modern practices, critiques, and inspiring lectures to learn more.
Our Printmaking major requires 121 credits to complete the degree. This includes: 76 in studio, 30 in Liberal Arts and Sciences, and 15 in Art History. Of the studio credits, 16 are required courses in the Foundation program, at least 36 are the required courses in the studio major, and the remainder are available for studio electives. A minimum two-year residency at the College is required.
Our Printmaking program is open to first-year students, transfer students, and international students. Learn more about PNCA’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.
Willamette University