Housed within a 3,000 square foot shared workspace and community printshop, our private studios are ideal for active printmakers, as well as book artists, and artists who work with a variety of 2-D media or small scale 3-D media.

Please note that the studio is NOT furnished with shelving and furniture.

Status:

Available November May 1, 2026

Rent:

Amenities:

The Chicago and Vicinity Riso Biennial is a regional exhibition celebrating risograph printing as it is being made right now across the Midwest. The show brings together artists from Chicago and Illinois along with the surrounding states — Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana — working in a medium defined by experimentation, accessibility, and the particular beauty of ink on paper.

Risograph printing occupies a unique space — rooted in zine culture and independent publishing, but increasingly embraced by artists pushing at the edges of what the process can do. Its layered spot colors, soy-based inks, and analog unpredictability make it a medium that rewards curiosity and collaboration.

This biennial is both a survey and a celebration, and a cheeky nod to the Art Institute of Chicago’s now defunct Chicago and Vicinity exhibition. This show is a chance to bring Midwest riso work into conversation with itself and honor a tradition of showing regional art, grounded in the independent, artist-driven print culture of the Midwest.

Eligibility: Artists residing in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Indiana are invited to submit.

Submissions: Artists may submit up to 3 existing works made using risograph. Submissions are free and open via this link.

Key Dates: 

Submission deadline: March 30, 2026 

Artist notification: April 6 

Work due at Spudnik Press (1821 W Hubbard St, #302, Chicago, IL 60622): April 20, 2026 

Opening Reception: Sunday, May 3, 2–5pm
Epiphany Center for the Arts: 201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607

Show closing Jul 4, 2026

Work can be shipped or dropped off at Spudnik Press at the expense of the sender (we recommend that out-of-town artists work together to ship their prints in one package). The work will be retained at the end of the show as part of a permanent archive (or as permanent as Riso can be).

Programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Driehaus Foundation, and the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.

Volunteer at Spudnik Press as a weekly Studio Monitor!

Our Volunteer Studio Monitor Open Call provides interested artists with printmaking experience 6 months of 24/7 access to our professional facilities, a flat file, and opportunities to expand their printmaking and studio tech skills. Through a weekly 4-hour commitment, Volunteer Studio Monitors support our Open Studio Hours while becoming more familiar with the Spudnik Press community. 

Open Studio at Spudnik Press provides studio access at a reduced price and is available to all who can print independently. You can learn more about the Open Studio sessions that we offer here. Each Volunteer Studio Monitor leads an Open Studio session each week. Their responsibilities include:

• Welcoming and supporting all guests
• Providing basic troubleshooting and printing assistance
• Collecting payments
• Restocking supplies, cleaning, and organizing the studio
• Seeking opportunities to improve the facilities at Spudnik Press

To fulfill these duties, all Volunteer Studio Monitors receive:

• 24/7 Keyholder access for the duration of their monitoring
• Authorization on all Spudnik Press facilities
• A flat file drawer to store work
• General orientation about the organization and their role
• Technical training on the various printmaking equipment at Spudnik Press

Important Dates:

• Deadline to Apply: March 9, 2026
• orientations and trainings scheduled the week of March 23.
• Monitoring schedule: starts March 30, 2026

SUBMIT INTEREST TO VOLUNTEER

——————–

Programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Builder’s Initiative.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

You are invited to apply to Mad Made

MadMade is a one-day, community-centered event designed to celebrate, support, and showcase the creative work of artists living with psychiatric disabilities and mental health challenges. This is not just another craft fair—it’s a space built on inclusion, care, and cultural empowerment.

MadMade is open to printmakers, Illustrators, artists, designers, and zine makers working across a wide variety of print including prints, screenprinting, lino cut, risograph, etching, digital print processes, or other print techniques. MadMade is open to individuals and collectives with a focus on first person experience.

This fair is a mad-positive, disability-affirming event focusing on individuals themselves, rather than their involvement in diagnosis or treatment, highlighting first-person experience regardless of formal diagnosis. It offers a counter-narrative to both the clinical and romanticized depictions of mental illness. Instead, it centers real people making real work that is beautiful, messy, joyful, angry, thoughtful work that opens conversation and creates community experience.

Apply here

MadMade is organized by Dylan Sturdy in conjunction with Spudnik Press, The Center for Mad Culture, and Access Living

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at madmade@spudnikpress.org

Important Dates
Fair Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Location: Access Living: 115 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
Public Hours: Saturday, November 15, 12 PM – 4:30PM

Vendor Hours / Load-In / Load-Out
Load-in & Check-in: Saturday, November 15, 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM
Load-out: Saturday, November 15, 4:30 – 6 PM

The Residency Program at Spudnik Press offers studio space to artists working in printmaking media to produce new work. We welcome experienced printmakers from Chicago and beyond to work at Spudnik Press for a period of two to six weeks. Resident Artists enjoy 24-access to the entire studio and receive general support from our printmaking staff. We design the duration, focus, and activities of each residency based on the needs and priorities of each individual artist. It is our intention to  provide resident artists with a supportive environment where they can develop a body of work, fostering creative growth and exploration of both traditional and innovative printmaking techniques.

In exchange, resident artists play an integral role in the Spudnik Press community, bringing new perspectives, experiences, and knowledge to our members and the broader public through a variety of public events and leaving a part of their prints with our press. Public programs are shaped by each artist’s skills and interests and have included artist talks, panel discussions, portfolio reviews with Spudnik members, workshops, and exhibitions.

Expectations

• Residents are expected to make full and regular use of Spudnik Press facilities (Roughly 3+ days per week, depending on the project and duration of the residency). Resident artists receive one flat file drawer, 24-hour access, the option to reserve equipment, and shared workspace, but no private studio.
• Residents receive a thorough orientation to Spudnik Press facilities and light technical support from staff. However, residents should be knowledgeable enough to generally work independently in the printmaking processes required for their project. Please address any need for specific or additional assistance in the cover letter.
• Resident Artists will present some form of public program or event, customized around the skills and interests of the artist and the Spudnik Press community.
• Spudnik Press will retain a portion of the finished artwork produced through the residency. Sales of these artworks provide the critical funding to sustain this program.

Eligibility
The Residency Program is committed to serving:

• Artists who are able to commit 2-6 weeks to a single, print-based project.
• Artists with a clear proposed residency project that is specific to their unique practice.
• Artists with an interest in engaging with the Spudnik Press community.
• Artists who are able to provide or coordinate their own travel, lodging, and local transportation during the residency.
• Artists with enough printmaking experience to work independently in the studio, with only light technical support from staff.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: Sunday, November 2, 2025
• Finalists Selected: by Monday, November 24, 2025
• Final Notification:  by Monday December 8, 2025
• Residency Period: February 1 – December 31, 2026
• Duration: Two to six weeks (local applicants are encouraged to apply for the full six weeks)

To Apply
Please submit the following materials to residency@spudnikpress.org. All documents should be PDFs:

• Letter of interest (no more than one page): Please address the general scope of your project, what equipment and materials the project will require, an overview of your experience in printmaking, public programming preferences or ideas, ideal length of a residency, any restrictions around dates, and anything else you like us to consider that is not covered by other parts of the application.
• Project Statement (no more than one page): Proposals should be well-defined and present a clear overview of the type and scope of work that you will produce. You do not need to specify exact edition sizes, print sizes, etc.
• Portfolio of 7-10 Images: Images must not exceed 1MB each and should be titled with your name and a file number. Work should be recent and include print-based art when possible.
• Image List: For each work, include the file name, title, medium, year of completion, and dimensions.
• Current Resume or CV (Optional–note: a lack of exhibition history should not deter potential residents from applying)

We will also accept a video submission of no more than 10 minutes for those who may need to use a different format from a written proposal. Please reach out to us at Info@spudnikpress.org  if you need assistance in creating an application or if there are additional accommodations needed concerning the submission format.

Spudnik Press Cooperative encourages applications from artists from all backgrounds, including underrepresented groups that include (but are not limited to) artists of color, LGBTQ artists, women artists, and artists with disabilities. Our Accessibility page includes additional information about getting to the studio and using the equipment. Any requests for accommodations can occur upon finalist notification or acceptance.

Selection Process
Residency applications are reviewed by a jury comprised of staff, studio members, and artists. Decisions are based on the quality of the proposal, the strength of the portfolio, and the applicant’s ability to work independently while maintaining their own point of view. While résumés and CVs may provide helpful context, the jury’s main focus will be on the applicant’s work, process, and residency proposal. A lack of exhibition history should not deter potential residents from applying. Staff will conduct in-person or virtual studio visits with all finalists to assess technical skills and discuss public presentation and programming opportunities.

Our Facilities
Our studio houses professional facilities and rare equipment for a wide variety of traditional print processes and fine art publishing. The 4,800 sq. ft. space includes shared work areas, private studios, and mixed-use spaces for exhibitions, classes, and community events.

Our print studio supports a range of techniques, including intaglio, relief, risography, and screen printing. For a detailed list of our equipment and facilities, click here

Any inquiries regarding our Residency Program can be directed to info@spudnikpress.org

Our Volunteer Studio Monitor Open Call provides interested artists with printmaking experience 6 months of 24/7 access to our professional facilities, a flat file, and opportunities to expand their printmaking and studio tech skills. Through a weekly 4-hour commitment, Volunteer Studio Monitors support our Open Studio Hours while becoming more familiar with the Spudnik Press community. 

Open Studio at Spudnik Press provides studio access at a reduced price and is available to all who can print independently. You can learn more about the Open Studio sessions that we offer here. Each Volunteer Studio Monitor leads an Open Studio session each week. Their responsibilities include:

• Welcoming and supporting all guests
• Providing basic troubleshooting and printing assistance
• Collecting payments
• Restocking supplies, cleaning, and organizing the studio
• Seeking opportunities to improve the facilities at Spudnik Press

To fulfill these duties, all Volunteer Studio Monitors receive:

• 24/7 Keyholder access for the duration of their monitoring
• Authorization on all Spudnik Press facilities
• A flat file drawer to store work
• General orientation about the organization and their role
• Technical training on the various printmaking equipment at Spudnik Press

Important Dates:

• Deadline to sign-up: August 25, 2025
• Zoom Orientation: September 3, 2024
• In-Person Orientation: September 7, 2025
• Monitoring schedule: starts September 8, 2025

SUBMIT INTEREST TO VOLUNTEER

——————–

Programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Builder’s Initiative.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

This summer, we are offering 2 fully-funded workshops to 2 local organizations who are interested in a creative workshop at Spudnik Press for their community members.

Apply Now

About the Program:

Launched in 2024, the Subsidized Workshop Program aims to provide organizations with the opportunity to explore the art of printmaking in a supportive and creative environment. Each workshop will be taught by a resident Teaching Artist at Spudnik Press and participating organizations may choose from an array of printmaking topics or techniques.

Workshop Options:

• 1-Day Drypoint Printing
• 1-Day Block Printing
• 1-Day Screenprinting on Paper
• 1-Day Monotype 101
• 1-Day Letterpress DIY Postcards

Application Period: May 1 – May 30, 2025

How to Apply:

Interested organizations are invited to submit their applications through this form.

We are kindly requesting the following details on your application:

• brief description of the organization
• your organization’s mission
• how or why it would benefit from a subsidized printmaking workshop at Spudnik

This initiative aims to support and engage Chicago’s vibrant community organizations in the art of printmaking. We encourage organizations of all sizes and missions to apply.

Two organizations will be notified on or before June 21, 2025.

Workshop Schedule:

The recipient organizations will have the opportunity to schedule their free workshops between August 1 through September 30. Spudnik Press will work with the organizations to determine the most suitable workshop date and time.

For inquiries, please email the Managing Director at yang@spudnikpress.org.

We believe in art’s impact on lives and communities and we are excited to partner with Chicago-based organizations to bring the joy of printmaking to more individuals. We look forward to receiving your applications!

Apply Now

——————–

Programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Driehaus Foundation, and the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

The Teaching Artist will fulfill core* educational offerings on Risography at Spudnik Press through teaching introductory and advanced classes, private lessons, and have the opportunity to develop custom lessons for private workshops and/or special community events that build upon their personal artistic practice.

Teaching Artists at Spudnik Press accrue experience in teaching varied groups and build on their personal art practice through their full access to our facilities, where they can also be collaborative and make lasting connections within our community.

*Core classes have existing syllabi available and Teaching Artists are welcome to execute them as-written or propose modifications.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Enthusiastic about printmaking and co learning
• Minimum one (1) year teaching experience preferred
• Familiarity with Google Workspace applications
• Located in the Chicago metropolitan area with reliable transportation to and from our studio, located at 1821 W Hubbard
• Able to commit a minimum of 12 hours per month
• Experience developing and implementing a structured and responsive class curriculum
• Self driven, independent work ethic in various printmaking skill sets
• Reliable and committed communicator

COMPENSATION

• $35/hour for private lessons and group classes
• Optional class conversion** for group classes at $23/hour
• 24/7 Keyholder access for the duration of their teaching residency
• Provision of a flat file for their classes and their own work
• Free registration to Spudnik Press classes for the duration of their teaching residency

**The optional class conversion addendum provides Teaching Artists the option and decision to either conduct or cancel group classes that do not meet minimum registration.

PHYSICAL WORK & ENVIRONMENT

Spudnik Press is located in the West Hubbard Lofts at 1821 W Hubbard St, Suite 302 and is wheelchair accessible. Please review our accessibility notice here. We have several printmaking studios which include; Screenprinting, Risography, Letterpress, Relief & Monoprinting, and Intaglio.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Application Fee: None; Free to apply
• Deadline To Apply:  April 4, 2025 at 11:59pm
• Final Notification: April 18, 2025
• Onboarding: April 23 and 28, 2025
• Classes Begin: week of May 19, 2025
• Duration: approx. 4 months (late May thru August 2025)

APPLICATION

Submit your cover letter, CV, portfolio with an image list, and an example of a previously taught printmaking syllabus to info@spudnikpress.org with subject line “RISO Teaching Artist Application | 2025 Summer.” All application materials should be submitted as one PDF.

Portfolio should consist of 5-7 images:  Images must not exceed 1MB each. Work should include print-based work and work from the last three years. Please provide title, medium, year of completion, and dimensions for each work in your Image List.

Spudnik Press will not replicate or share your submitted syllabus with the broader public as it remains your intellectual property.

For inquiries, please email Managing Director yang@spudnikpress.org.

——————–

Programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Driehaus Foundation, and the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Our Studio Monitor Open Call provides interested volunteers who have printmaking experience with 6 months of 24/7 access to our professional facilities, a flat file, and opportunities to expand their printmaking and studio tech skills. Through a weekly 4-hour commitment, Volunteer Studio Monitors support our Open Studio Hours while becoming more familiar with the Spudnik Press community. 

Open Studio at Spudnik Press provides studio access at a reduced price and is available to all who can print independently. You can learn more about the Open Studio sessions that we offer here. Each Volunteer Studio Monitor leads an Open Studio session each week. Their responsibilities include:

• Welcoming and supporting all guests
• Providing basic troubleshooting and printing assistance
• Collecting payments
• Restocking supplies, cleaning, and organizing the studio
• Seeking opportunities to improve the facilities at Spudnik Press

To fulfill these duties, all Volunteer Studio Monitors receive:

• 24/7 Keyholder access for the duration of their monitoring
• Authorization on all Spudnik Press facilities
• A flat file drawer to store work
• General orientation about the organization and their role
• Technical training on the various printmaking equipment at Spudnik Press

Important Dates:

• Deadline to sign-up: February 23, 2025
• Zoom interviews starting: February 24, 2025
• Zoom Orientation: March 5, 2024
• In-Person Orientation: March 9, 2025
• Monitoring schedule: starts March 10, 2025

——————–

Programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Builder’s Initiative.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Housed within a 3,000 square foot shared workspace and community printshop, our private studios are ideal for active printmakers, as well as book artists, and artists who work with a variety of 2-D media or small scale 3-D media.

Please note that the studio is NOT furnished with shelving and furniture.

Status:

Available January 15, 2025

Rent:

Amenities:

Everyone’s safety is important to us. Participation in this program requires being onsite at Spudnik Press Cooperative and that per our Covid-19 Policy, all artists accepted into the program will be required to provide staff with proof of vaccination. Where possible, we will make reasonable accommodations for artists with a medical or religious exemption.

Housed within a 3,000 square foot shared workspace and community printshop, our private studios are ideal for active printmakers, as well as book artists, and artists who work with a variety of 2-D media or small scale 3-D media.

Please note that the studio is NOT furnished with shelving and furniture.

Status:

Available January 15, 2025

Rent:

Amenities:

Everyone’s safety is important to us. Participation in this program requires being onsite at Spudnik Press Cooperative and that per our Covid-19 Policy, all artists accepted into the program will be required to provide staff with proof of vaccination. Where possible, we will make reasonable accommodations for artists with a medical or religious exemption.

Housed within a 3,000 square foot shared workspace and community printshop, our private studios are ideal for active printmakers, as well as book artists, and artists who work with a variety of 2-D media or small scale 3-D media.

Please note that the studio is NOT furnished with shelving and furniture.

Status:

Available June 1, 2024

Rent:

Amenities:

Everyone’s safety is important to us. Participation in this program requires being onsite at Spudnik Press Cooperative and that per our Covid-19 Policy, all artists accepted into the program will be required to provide staff with proof of vaccination. Where possible, we will make reasonable accommodations for artists with a medical or religious exemption.