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Contemporary Prints

Printmaking maintains its connection to its roots as a commercial process for mass-reproduction of images through offset lithography and screen printing. Partially as a reaction to commercial use, and partially in acknowledgement of the versatility of the medium, contemporary artists celebrate various printmaking techniques to create magnificent original and editioned works.

Experimentation with different materials is pervasive amongst contemporary printmakers, and has become especially important to artists now that inkjet prints and other photomechanical means of reproducing images are simple and inexpensive. Artists print onto unexpected materials and use unconventional techniques, even incorporating inject prints, to create large scale works that stand on their own as unique works.


Quick Facts

  • The Israeli artist Yaacov Agam created the agamograph, or a lenticular print, using a combination of two different images and a lenticular lens. This type of print allows the viewer to see three different images depending upon where he or she is standing
  • Beginning in the 1960s, artist Frank Stella often combined lithography, silkscreen, and Intaglio and relief printing techniques to create mixed media works within the artists abstract style
  • Recent works by Chuck Close combine various printmaking techniques to create pieces that are simultaneously abstractions within figural works

Recommended Items at Auction

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Andy Warhol ''$'' (Dollar Sign) 1982 Screenprint
Dec 14, 5:00 PM PST
Andy Warhol ''$'' (Dollar Sign) 1982 Screenprint
by MBA Seattle Auction LLC
Est: $20,000- $40,000
$30,0009 Bids
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 13)
Dec 14, 12:00 PM JST
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 13)
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥150,000- ¥200,000
¥150,0001 Bid
Otto Dix (1891 Untermhaus bei Gera - Singen 1969) – Dame mit Reiher (Lady with a heron hat)
Dec 08, 3:00 PM CET
Otto Dix (1891 Untermhaus bei Gera - Singen 1969) – Dame mit Reiher (Lady with a heron hat)
by Karl & Faber
Est: €3,000- €4,000
€2,4001 Bid
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 14)
Dec 14, 12:00 PM JST
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 14)
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥150,000- ¥200,000
¥150,0001 Bid
Erich Heckel (1883 Döbeln/Sachsen - Radolfzell 1970) – Weiße Pferde (White horses)
Dec 07, 6:00 PM CET
Erich Heckel (1883 Döbeln/Sachsen - Radolfzell 1970) – Weiße Pferde (White horses)
by Karl & Faber
Est: €50,000- €70,000
€40,0000 Bids
Andy Warhol (after)
Dec 05, 6:00 PM CET
Andy Warhol (after)
by TGP Auction
Est: CHF150- CHF200
CHF900 Bids
Alberto Giacometti (1901 Borgonovo - Chur 1966) – Au Café (Au Café)
Dec 08, 3:00 PM CET
Alberto Giacometti (1901 Borgonovo - Chur 1966) – Au Café (Au Café)
by Karl & Faber
Est: €18,000- €22,000
€14,0000 Bids
Rizzi, James
Dec 13, 10:00 AM CET
Rizzi, James
by Kiefer Buch- und Kunstauktionen
Est: €800- €1,200
€8000 Bids
Gypsies
Dec 14, 12:00 PM JST
Gypsies
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥200,000- ¥300,000
¥200,0000 Bids
!N-Cha!
Dec 14, 12:00 PM JST
!N-Cha!
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥300,000- ¥400,000
¥300,0000 Bids
CLONE X × TAKASHI MURAKAMI #2 Lonesome Cowboy
Dec 14, 12:00 PM JST
CLONE X × TAKASHI MURAKAMI #2 Lonesome Cowboy
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥100,000- ¥150,000
¥100,0000 Bids
So Much Fun, Under the Blue Sky
Dec 14, 12:00 PM JST
So Much Fun, Under the Blue Sky
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥250,000- ¥350,000
¥250,0000 Bids
Flower Paisley
Dec 14, 12:00 PM JST
Flower Paisley
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥200,000- ¥250,000
¥200,0000 Bids
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Thomas W. Benton (American, 1930-2007) "Peace" Silkscreen
Dec 06, 6:30 PM EST
Thomas W. Benton (American, 1930-2007) "Peace" Silkscreen
by Market Auctions Inc.
Est: $50- $100
$250 Bids
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 15)
Dec 14, 12:00 PM JST
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 15)
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥150,000- ¥200,000
¥150,0000 Bids
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 5/ 17)
Dec 14, 3:00 PM JST
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 5/ 17)
by Mallet Auction
Est: ¥300,000- ¥400,000
¥300,0000 Bids
TAKASHI MURAKAMI, FIRST LOVE AND I CONTEMPLATE ABOUT DINNER TONIGHT - 2020
Dec 10, 12:00 PM EST
TAKASHI MURAKAMI, FIRST LOVE AND I CONTEMPLATE ABOUT DINNER TONIGHT - 2020
by White Knight Auctions
Est: $2,000- $3,000
$1,4000 Bids
Yoshitomo Nara - Real One, 2020
Dec 19, 6:00 PM CET
Yoshitomo Nara - Real One, 2020
by TGP Auction
Est: CHF1,400- CHF1,500
CHF8000 Bids
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Murakami Takashi, December Remember
Dec 09, 8:00 PM CET
Murakami Takashi, December Remember
by Absolute Auction
Est: €1,700- €2,000
€9000 Bids
ALESSIO-B 'Peace' (2015) Silkscreen Print
Dec 10, 1:00 PM PST
ALESSIO-B 'Peace' (2015) Silkscreen Print
by Signari Gallery, LLC
Est: $750- $850
$500 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Contemporary Prints


Mallet Auction

Mallet Auction

Absolute Auction

Absolute Auction

Karl & Faber

Karl & Faber

White Knight Auctions

White Knight Auctions