Welcome to Imprint 2024, our 16th annual high school print competition and exhibition!

This online exhibition represents a juried selection of works submitted by high school students from across
Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. 

The Imprint program encourages new generations of young artists in the medium of relief printmaking. For this year’s Imprint exhibition we introduced the theme of ‘Rhythms.’ Much of Esherick’s creative practice was shaped by the actors and dancers who surrounded him. He consistently found a way to incorporate that graceful movement into his work, from the Rhythms (1922) woodcut print to his Spiral Library Ladder (1969), and beyond!

When Wharton Esherick was a young artist, woodcut printmaking was a critical medium in his artistic development. Through printmaking, Esherick transitioned from a young painter to an internationally recognized artist and furniture designer. You can see Esherick’s prints in our collection and in the collections of other institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art. To see a new print from the Esherick Museum’s collection every week, follow us on Instagram and Facebook  each “Woodcut Wednesday.”

Recognizing the pivotal role that printmaking played in Esherick’s life, we are delighted to once again highlight young artists who represent the future of this powerful medium, with Imprint. We were once again astounded by the skill and creativity of the submissions and send a huge thank you to all the art teachers and students who shared their work with us!

» Watch the Imprint 2024 Virtual Reception!

Geocentrism
Brandon Bacordo
Abington Senior High School

“This artwork fits the idea of rhythms by showing four different environments, urban, suburban, rural, and nature, which each have their own different rhythms. But although their wildly different rhythms, they are still connected together by the rhythm of time and the Earth, which not only serves as the central point of the artwork, but also serves as a convergence point for all environments. To further empathize that point, the plaza in the center has 12 spokes, representing a clock, and turning the plaza into a sundial to tell the time.“

Riese Hughes, Mom
Central High School

“Riese created a linocut carving print of her mother, speaking of the importance in her life and using sunflowers and other patterns to represent movement, sunshine and growth.“

Izzy Tigro, Symphony of Bonds
Abington Senior High School

“My piece illustrates the rhythms of friendship in my life, the ups and downs of relationships. The rhythms bring people together whether they are moments experienced together or apart from each other. This artwork also holds a special meaning for me because it depicts some of my trauma and how my friends have been there for me in a way that only made our bonds grow stronger (our “ups”).”

We are grateful to have had local printmaking artists Katie Garth and Nikki Gilliam as a guest jurors for this year’s Imprint competition.