When Lise Drost began teaching at the University of Miami in 1993, she introduced the tradition of a print exchange, a practice among printmakers to share their work in a group portfolio.
“Besides building up a personal print collection, for students it’s also an opportunity to learn how to make an edition of their work and have an immediate use for those prints,” explained Drost, a professor emerita in the Department of Art and Art History at the College of Arts and Sciences.
Now, visitors to “CENTENNIAL: University of Miami Print Exchange 2025,” a dynamic exhibition celebrating the creative contributions of alumni and faculty, can enjoy some of those prints. Curated by Drost, the show highlights a diverse range of printmaking practices that honor the University’s artistic legacy and its century-long commitment to fostering creativity and community.
The exhibition builds on the longstanding print exchange tradition, bringing together work from alumni and faculty from the last three decades. It features an array of media including etching, woodcut, risograph, and silkscreen, demonstrating both the technical skill and experimental range of the University’s printmaking community.
The “CENTENNIAL: Print Exchange” exhibition includes works by Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts alumni from 1994 to 2024, as well as two longtime colleagues, Jonathan Beaumont Thomas and Lani Shapton, who Drost credits as integral to the printmaking area’s success. Some of the participants are also current faculty members.
“All but one of the alums I contacted agreed to participate and came through with an amazing print, so their willingness to be a part of this moment means a lot to me,” Drost said. “It shows that we’re a successful program, and making this collection of their work as professionals creates an important archive.”
One of the exhibition’s defining qualities is its seamless blend of traditional and digital printmaking methods. From risograph prints to digitally layered compositions, the works on view reflect how printmaking continues to evolve while honoring its roots.
“There is an ongoing international discussion involving how does one define printmaking these days,” Drost explained. “I believe an artist should utilize whatever tools help them make their work better, and I think my former students share that approach.”
For Drost, who retired in May 2025 after more than three decades at the University, “CENTENNIAL: Print Exchange” also serves as a celebration of community and collaboration.
“The most rewarding thing has been watching how the University of Miami’s graduates have grown the South Florida printmaking community,” Drost said. “Many of our graduates teach in area schools, and there are community-based print studios now that never existed before.”
The participants in the exhibition are Jennifer Basile, Abraham Camayd, Christine Di Staola, Thomas J. Engleman, Kari Fernandez, Daniele Gabriel, Nicole Hand, Kathleen Hudspeth, Catherine Kramer, Eddy A. Lopez, Victoria Rose Martin, Randi Matushevitz, John McCaffrey, Charlisa Montrope, Brian Reedy, Rachel Alderton Rippes, Beatriz Rodriguez, Claudia Scalise, Barbara Scheer, Lani Shapton, Scott Smith, Jeannette Stargala, Jonathan Beaumont Thomas, Kyle Trowbridge, and Tom Virgin. The exhibition is on view through Jan. 16, 2026, in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Ashe 140 Gallery, located at 1252 Memorial Drive on the Coral Gables campus.
Printmaking has deep roots at the University. The art form was first introduced by Richard Merrick, the brother of University founder George Merrick, who began teaching at the University in the 1930s after studying at the Art Students League of New York. Much of the print equipment Merrick acquired remains in use today in the Rainbow Building printmaking facility, a lasting link between the program’s past and present.
As the University celebrates its centennial, “CENTENNIAL: Print Exchange” captures its legacy of innovation, mentorship, and artistic excellence. For Drost, the exhibition is not just a reflection of her own career, but a continuation of a creative lineage that will shape the next generation of artists.
