About the artist.
Morgan Swartz is an artist from Pittsburgh, PA.
He graduated from Vassar College in Spring 2021 and studied abroad at Glasgow School of Art. His art focuses on the concepts of gender and the transgender experience, the body, urban life, and nature.
Morgan began selling his artwork in 2022 and joined Pittsburgh Print Group in 2024.
He currently lives in Pittsburgh with his husband and two cats.
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About the process.
Linoleum block printing is an evolution of ancient woodblock printing technique.
Each print is carved into a block of linoleum using sharp carving tools. This process can take hours and all cuts are permanent. The image is also backwards during this step, meaning any text must be mirrored for it to look correct in the final product.
When the block is finished, a small roller called a brayer is used to apply ink to the raised surfaces of the block. Paper is then laid carefully on top of the ink and pressure is applied to transfer it. This can be done with something as simple as your hands or as specialized as a printing press. This can be repeated with different colors of ink to create multicolored pieces.
Once the ink has dried, the print is signed and editioned. Because a block wears out over time, it is only able to be used a limited number of times. Most of my prints are done in editions 100. I edition each print in the bottom left corner (this will be on the back if the design goes to the edge of the paper).
Exhibitions and Journals
Season of the Witch, MadKat Studios. fall 2022.
They/Them/Their: Naturally Not Binary. Exhibited in London in 2022.
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh New Member Exhibition 2022 at Ice House studios in Pittsburgh.
you are here: The Journal of Creative Geography from the University of Arizona School of Geography and Development, released 2022.
Asynchronous, Vassar College Studio Art Department Senior Show 2021.
Professional Development
Bridgeway Capital First Leap Creative Business Accelerator, Fall 2023 Cohort.
Protoype Incubator, Spring 2023 Cohort.