Rufino Tamayo, "Galaxia," 1977 © 2019 Tamayo Heirs / Mexico / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
Dimensions of Form: Tamayo and Mixografia addresses the artistic legacy of modern master Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991). In this display of boundary-breaking work, fifty prints on loan from Mixografía® studio in LA depicting celestial bodies and serpent-gods will accompany an 1,800-pound lithographic stone plate, revealing the innovation behind Tamayo’s three-dimensional masterpieces.
The Mixografía printmaking technique is a unique fine art printing process that allows for the production of three-dimensional prints with elements of relief, texture and very fine surface detail. Since its inception, the mixografia process has been utilized by many contemporary artists including John Baldessari, Ed Ruscha, Analia Saban, Jonas Wood, Alex Israel, and more.
"Rufino Tamayo exhibition pushes the boundaries of print at the Bowers Museum" - LA TIMES
"Not to be missed." - KCRW
The Making of a Mixografía Print
History of Mixografia®, Studio and Process
In 1973, Rufino Tamayo was invited to create a series of prints by Taller de Gráfica Mexicana, a print shop founded by the Rembas Family whose legacy reaches back to the 1930’s, Mexico City. Tamayo was eager to incorporate aspects of texture and dimensionality into his artwork and agreed to collaborate under the condition that the studio develop a technique that would allow him to produce his prints in relief. The shop rose to the challenge by inventing a process that not only allowed Tamayo to create prints in relief, but also registered the artwork’s texture and very fine surface detail. Unable to use commercial paper for this new kind of printing, the Remba family designed and built special papermaking machinery to use in the studio. The name of the print shop was changed to reflect the name of the medium for which it had become known: “Mixografia.” -Mixografia.com
Click here for more information on the history of Mixografia.
Dimensions of Form: Tamayo and Mixografia is organized by the Bowers Museum in conjunction with Mixografia®.