About

Mission

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, nuance, and complexity — Matiz Press is a publishing platform that bridges formal art spaces and independent print cultures.

We collaborate with artists, curators, and cultural workers to create experimental, small-run publications that circulate ideas, histories, and critical thought. Rooted in Chicago’s creative landscape, Matiz exists at the intersection of publishing, education, and community, centering print as a tool for connection, cultural stewardship, and shared imagination.

Values

Matiz Press is grounded in the values of access, collaboration, and cultural stewardship.

We believe publishing should be democratic, experimental, and community-centered. Our work fosters equitable collaboration, expands access to printmaking and publishing, and uplifts underrepresented voices through collective storytelling and circulation.

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    Collaboration

    Matiz Press partners with artists, curators, and cultural workers to create experimental, small-run publications. We treat publishing as an artistic practice — a space for storytelling, critical thought, and collective authorship. Our collaborations center bilingual, interdisciplinary, and archival approaches to making print matter.

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    Learning & Access

    We believe in publishing as a democratic tool. Through workshops, talks, and skill-shares, Matiz provides accessible entry points to printmaking and publishing, empowering people to circulate their own ideas, histories, and creative visions. Our educational work bridges formal art spaces and independent publishing communities.

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    Culture

    Matiz Press centers publishing as a cultural practice — a way of sustaining networks, preserving stories, and amplifying underrepresented voices. We operate as a living archive and circulation platform, prioritizing intimate, hand-to-hand exchange through pop-ups, fairs, and digital platforms. Our work is rooted in equity, cultural stewardship, and collective belonging.

Print is for Everyone!←

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.