Fifteen years ago, Chicago artist Dan Grzeca (pronounced Jet-sah) was painting. It was the ’90s, and Bob Hartzell and Steve Walters of Screwball Press introduced him and a slew of other artists, including Jay Ryan, to screen printing — specifically, poster making. “That’s one of the reasons Chicago has such a rich pool of talent,” Grzeca says. “It’s very self-perpetuating with older artists inspiring and encouraging new, younger artists.”
Sonnenzimmer: Chicago’s DIY Printmaking Powerhouse
Nadine Nakanishi and Nick Butcher, owners of Sonnenzimmer screen-printing studio in Chicago’s Roscoe Village, were drawn to the art from a young age, and now create posters for bands like The Sea and Cake and Tokyo Police Club.