At St Kilda’s Linden New Art from 7 to 9 February 2025, the inaugural “edition1” Melbourne Art Print Fair celebrates the importance and intrigue of print as an artform, showcasing seven printmaking studios and agencies from across Australia in one location.
The fair is the brainchild of Kelly Gellatly, Kirsty Grant and Bronwyn Johnson – the trio behind Kaleidoscope Editions – as well as Trent Walter, Director of Negative Press. The four directors recognised the need for a curated print fair that focused on the culture of collecting original prints and of supporting living artists, printmakers and print publishers. It intends not only to fill a niche, but to create a vibrant new platform for studios and artists to present their work, and for art lovers to discover, learn and perhaps start their own art collections.
Melinda Harper, Untitled, 2023, colour screenprint, 76 × 56cm. Printer: Troppo Print Studio. Courtesy the artist
The seven participants in this year’s fair are Canberra’s Megalo Print Studio and Melbourne-based Print Council of Australia as well as Baldessin Studio, Kaleidoscope Editions, Negative Press, Spacecraft and Sunshine Editions – featuring works by Brook Andrew, Peter Atkins, Kylie Banyard, Janet Burchill and Jennifer McCamley, Melinda Harper, Brent Harris, Katherine Hattam, Chris Ingham, Ellie Malin, Rob McHaffie, Elizabeth Newman, and Rose Nolan; and an exhibition of prints from the studio of master printer, John Loane – working under the name of Viridian Press since the early 1980s.
The event also includes talks by featured contemporary artists, printers and publishers, highlighting the accessibility, affordability and the value of original limited-edition prints and educating visitors about the techniques and processes involved in their production.
Melbourne Art Print Fair: edition1 is free to enter and will be presented at Linden New Art for the next three years.
