KELPRA: Artists and Printmakers Concepts – Conversations – Collaborations
We were thrilled to work in collaboration with the Ulster Museum to mount an exhibition of prints created at the innovative Kelpra Studio, London.
Kelpra studio was set up by Chris and Rose (nee Kelly) Prater at their kitchen table in 1957. The studio went on to become one of the most pioneering print studios in history, combining the commercial techniques of screen printing with fine art practice. Kelpra was renowned for working in close collaboration with artists to produce daring and eye-catching original prints.
The artists in this exhibition worked collaboratively with Kelpra and other print studios, expert printers and technical staff in the course of their careers. They were supported by highly skilled people who dealt with the complex processes involved in fine art printmaking and editioning.
Seacourt brought a taste of this collaborative process of printmaking to a group of children at the Ulster Museum in Spring 2024. In a participative workshop we showed kids how the artist would use forms and layers to build up bright and exciting pop art prints. The work created by the groups really showed how dynamic and fun screenprinting is.
Following on from the highly successful show at the Ulster Museum, Belfast, Seacourt is hosting a series of further exhibitions examining in more detail the printmaking of selected artists included in the Kelpra show. In 2025 we are focussing on the prints of the renowned British artist, Joe Tilson (1928-2023).
