About
Mission
Matiz Press is an print education studio dedicated to teaching indie publishing as a tool for critical thought, cultural work, and collective expression.
Founded by artist-educator Miguel Limón, Matiz offers hands-on workshops and public programs that make risograph printing accessible to artists, educators, and organizers.
Rooted in the legacies of DIY publishing and community print culture, Matiz is a space for slow making, collaboration, and beautifully made objects that carry meaning — personal, collective, or just visual.
What is "Matiz?"
Inspired by the Spanish word matiz—meaning hue and nuance—we embrace the tactile beauty of printmaking as a medium for storytelling, design, and education while honoring the joy of art for its aesthetic value. Influenced by Chicago’s cultural and creative exchanges, we offer accessible workshops and collaborative projects that ensure print media remains dynamic, inclusive, and vital to artistic and community expression.
Values
Matiz Press is built on the values of creativity, education, and community. Through printmaking, the studio fosters artistic expression, inspires learning, and empowers diverse voices to connect and advocate for social justice.
Print
Matiz Press values the core medium of printmaking as a celebration of creativity, diversity, and storytelling. Printmaking serves as a platform to explore vibrant ideas and share visual narratives that connect with a wide audience. By honoring the craft and its ability to communicate visually, Matiz Press emphasizes its role in fostering artistic expression and innovation.
Learning
Education is a cornerstone of Matiz Press, rooted in discovery, skill-building, and personal growth. Through workshops and hands-on experiences, the studio teaches printmaking as a versatile tool for storytelling, communication, and design. This commitment to education inspires participants to unlock their creative potential and engage deeply with the art form.
Community & Culture
Matiz Press prioritizes community, culture, and social justice by emphasizing inclusivity, equity, and empowerment. The studio fosters connections between people and cultural narratives, using printmaking as a grassroots tool for collective expression and advocacy. Through its commitment to collaboration and representation, Matiz Press works to uplift communities and champion cultural dialogue.
How We Work with People and Organizations
Matiz Press partners with artists, educators, and community organizations through collaborative workshops, public programs, and co-created print projects. We focus on building relationships that value mutual learning, cultural relevance, and accessibility.
We typically work with:
- Artists and educators interested in learning risograph or using it in their teaching and artmaking.
- Community organizations and schools seeking engaging, hands-on programs that connect printmaking with themes like identity, storytelling, social justice, or youth voice.
- Grassroots groups and cultural spaces who want to use print as a medium for civic engagement, public dialogue, or cultural memory.
How Collaborators Are Chosen
We prioritize collaborators whose values align with our mission—those committed to education, community-building, and experimentation. Some partnerships are initiated through open calls or applications, while others emerge through conversation, shared networks, or mutual goals. We seek out partnerships that:
- Support underserved or historically marginalized communities
- Center cultural knowledge, lived experience, and collective storytelling
- Encourage accessible, inclusive learning environments
- Allow space for process, reflection, and shared authorship
While we’re a small operation, we’re always open to building with those who see print as more than a product—who see it as a practice.
Who We Don’t Work With
Matiz Press is not a commercial print shop. We don’t take on projects that are solely about production without an educational or collaborative component. We are not actively looking to support:
- Individuals or groups seeking low-cost or high-volume print jobs
- Corporations or institutions misaligned with our community-centered values
- Projects that lack room for dialogue, co-creation, or shared authorship
- Promotional campaigns, branded content, or marketing materials
We’re here to teach, not to produce on demand.
