26. Chris Lawry

Printmaking

Chris Lawry discovered printmaking in 2009 and immediately recognised it as the art form she would pursue for life.

She is drawn to the physical process of cutting a block and to the inherent limitations of the medium, believing these constraints foster creativity. She is equally motivated by the technical challenges of printmaking—the unpredictability of results and the patience and skill required to master the process.

Chris currently practises three major printmaking forms, with lino printing remaining her first love. Her lino prints are highly intricate and tonal in style, most often rendered in black and white and focused on landscape subjects. In 2025, she coordinated The Unusual Art of Monoprinting at PG Gallery in Fitzroy, an exhibition that encouraged both herself and participating artists to explore a freer, less formal approach to printmaking.

That same year, Chris travelled to Japan to study traditional Japanese woodcut techniques. She is inspired by the beauty and depth of colour achievable through this centuries-old method, which has influenced Western artists since the post-Impressionist era. Deeply passionate about printmaking, Chris hopes to encourage others to share her enthusiasm for the medium.

Chris’s studio is a fully functioning working space, where visitors can view recent works alongside the etching press, tools, blocks, and inks she uses in her practice. She welcomes conversation and is always happy to explain her processes and techniques.

“I make art because it seems that I must. I believe that everybody needs art in their lives, just as they need shelter and food. Without art in some form, the human spirit cannot thrive. Every time I see a beautiful tree, landscape, interesting face, gorgeous sky, my second thought is 'I wonder if I could share this through my printmaking?’ Another artist might sing a song, or write a poem, I make a print."

— Chris Lawry