Behind the scenes: Tyler Graphics at work

Art from one of the most innovative print workshops of the 20th century is currently on display at the National Gallery of Australia until 8 May 2106. Behind the scenes: Tyler Graphics at work presents a unique selection of this material.

From 1966 until 2001 master printer Kenneth Tyler collaborated with some of the twentieth century’s most brilliant artists on projects that categorically redefined the medium of printmaking. Tyler’s workshops were places of experimentation and invention. Artists embraced his ‘no rules’ mantra to create prints across all media, in two and three dimensions, pushing the boundaries of print in new and provocative ways.

The National Gallery of Australia’s Kenneth Tyler Print Collection spans the entirety of Tyler’s career and is the most comprehensive collection of postwar American art outside the United States. Consisting of over 7000 works of art and extensive holdings of documentary film, sound and photographic material, the collection provides insight into the workings of the most innovative print workshop of the twentieth century.

Elaborate graphic artworks from a diverse range of artists are shown in the context of their making. Through candid photographs and a series of specially produced short films, the exhibition takes us behind the scenes at Tyler Graphics Ltd, investigating the processes of printmaking, and illuminating the collaborative relationships between artist and printmaker.