Episode 228 - Michael Kempson: Mastering Printmaking, Mentorship, and the Art of Collaboration

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In this episode of the Art Wank Podcast, we sit down with Michael Kempson, one of Australia’s leading master printers. With a career spanning over three decades, Michael has made a profound impact on the field of printmaking through his own practice as well as his work as a mentor, collaborator and educator.

Michael is best known as the founder and director of Cicada Press, an educationally focused printmaking workshop based at UNSW Art and Design. Through Cicada Press, he has collaborated with hundreds of artists from Australia and overseas, fostering experimentation and innovation in print. The workshop has become a vital space where emerging and established artists can expand their practices, with Michael guiding technical expertise while encouraging creative risk taking.

Alongside this collaborative work, Michael has dedicated much of his career to teaching. He was a senior lecturer at UNSW and has mentored countless students, many of whom have gone on to develop successful artistic practices of their own. His approach emphasises the importance of both technical mastery and the spirit of collaboration, showing how printmaking can open up new conversations across disciplines and cultures.

Beyond his role as a master printer and teacher, Michael maintains a personal art practice that reflects his own visual language and concerns. His prints often draw on social and political themes, expressed through a refined and graphic sensibility. This balance between nurturing the artistic visions of others and pursuing his own practice marks Michael as a unique and influential figure in the contemporary art world.

In our conversation, Michael shares insights into the collaborative process and reflections on what it means to dedicate a life to teaching, printing and making art.