“The Face of Nature”: A Global Dialogue Through Contemporary Printmaking in Athens

For the first time, Athens joins the international programme of the 23rd AAmA International Contemporary Art Exhibition with the presentation of the International Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition: The Face of Nature, Imprint of the Global 2026, a major artistic initiative bringing together 33 distinguished printmakers from 18 countries. Hosted at the Lofos Art Project in Kypseli, the exhibition opens on 14 June 2026 and offers a rare opportunity to experience contemporary printmaking as a powerful medium for ecological reflection, cultural exchange and artistic innovation.

Conceived, curated and coordinated by acclaimed printmaker and Professor Emerita of Printmaking at the Athens School of Fine Arts, Vicky Tsalamata, the exhibition represents the culmination of a long-standing vision: to create an international meeting point for printmaking in Greece and to strengthen the global visibility of contemporary printmaking practices. Drawing on decades of international collaborations and artistic exchanges, Tsalamata has invited leading artists from around the world, many of whom are professors at major art academies and influential figures in the field.

At the heart of the exhibition lies a pressing contemporary question: how can art help us rethink our relationship with nature? Through a wide range of printmaking techniques, materials and visual languages, the participating artists explore environmental responsibility, ecological interdependence and humanity’s place within the broader living world. Rather than treating nature as a passive subject, the exhibition proposes it as an active presence, inviting viewers to reconsider established anthropocentric perspectives and engage with more reciprocal and caring ways of inhabiting the planet.

The exhibition’s title, The Face of Nature, serves as a curatorial framework through which printmaking becomes a space for ecological inquiry and ethical reflection. Works presented in the exhibition address themes such as environmental degradation, biodiversity, memory embedded in landscapes, and personal experiences of the natural world. Together, they form a rich visual conversation that transcends national borders and cultural differences, highlighting printmaking’s unique capacity to communicate universal concerns.

The international character of the exhibition is particularly significant. Artists from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Korea, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States contribute to this collective exploration of ecological consciousness. Their diverse artistic approaches reveal how environmental questions resonate across different cultural contexts while emphasizing the shared responsibility of safeguarding the natural world.

Among the distinguished participants is legendary American printmaker Dan Welden, internationally recognised as the inventor of the environmentally friendly Solarplate process, a pioneering non-toxic printmaking technique that transformed contemporary print practice worldwide. His participation reinforces the exhibition’s commitment to sustainability and innovation within the medium. Welden shares a longstanding connection with Greece, having previously conducted workshops in Athens at the invitation of Vicky Tsalamata, introducing Greek artists to ecological printmaking methods.

The exhibition also includes the special two-person presentation Art Notes, featuring works by Professor Luo Qi and Luo Tian. Luo Qi, Academic Director of the Tagus International Centre of Arts in Hangzhou, China, serves as co-curator of the Athens edition of the 23rd AAmA exhibition programme, further strengthening the dialogue between Europe and Asia through contemporary artistic practice.

Beyond the exhibition itself, an extensive programme of public events enriches the experience. Highlights include a lecture by renowned Argentine printmaker Alicia Candiani, who will discuss the evolving boundaries of printmaking in the age of digital image production, a live Chinese calligraphy performance by Professor Luo Qi, and a lecture by art historian Athena Schina. Screenings documenting sixteen years of research and experimentation at the Second Printmaking Studio of the Athens School of Fine Arts will also offer valuable insight into the educational and artistic legacy behind the exhibition.

More than a showcase of technical excellence, The Face of Nature, Imprint of the Global 2026 positions contemporary printmaking as a vital platform for international dialogue and ecological awareness. By bringing together artists from across the world in Athens, the exhibition affirms the enduring relevance of printmaking as a universal visual language capable of connecting cultures, fostering empathy and inspiring new ways of imagining our collective future.