Crowd at RisoLAB's Print Slam, an end of semester print sale and exhibition of student work.
Within the niche world of Risograph printing, SVA’s RisoLAB stands out for several reasons. Located in the heart of Manhattan, it’s earned a reputation as both a premier educational facility dedicated to Risograph printing and as a creative hub for artists of all backgrounds.
Since its founding in SVA’s MFA Visual Narrative Department in 2015, the RisoLAB has offered one of the College’s most popular programs as well as become a beloved public facility for fans of this unique printing technique and creative crossroads for many art forms. And from the very beginning, Continuing Education students have played an essential role in the RisoLAB community.
Whether someone is completely new to Riso or an advanced printer, they’ll find the RisoLAB offers a wide range of courses and workshops that cater to artists across several disciplines, including illustrators, photographers, animators, and more. Plus, students can practice what they learn both in and out of the classroom. In fact, many RisoLAB users are current or former CE students who use their Open Lab Access to develop their practice and pursue their independent projects. As Risograph printing and publishing have exploded in popularity over the years, public interest has grown along with them.
The RisoLAB's most recent color chart, showing its expanded palette of 27 unique spot colors. Design by Panayiotis Terzis.
A reference chart depicting various halftone dots and textures that can be applied to images. Design by Panayiotis Terzis.
Following overwhelming student demand, the RisoLAB recently completed a long-awaited expansion. What began in 2015, as two printers with eight Risograph colors, has since grown into two full studios equipped with a variety of machines, tools, and dozens of unique and vibrant inks. This expansion has opened endless creative possibilities. Now, even more students can choose from a wider selection of courses, work with updated equipment, and enjoy greater access to the facility to create and experiment freely alongside other artists.
In addition to functioning as a creative workspace, RisoLAB Director Panayiotis Terzis sees the program as a much needed type of “third space” in the digital age, and he’s excited to watch it grow. “With a physical expansion and a community that's so passionate and excited and driven,” Panayiotis says, “I feel like the community also inevitably expands—whether it's individuals expanding the scope of their work, or new or returning students coming to the lab.” Now more than ever, taking a course at the RisoLAB means not just using a state-of-the-art printing facility but also becoming part of a dynamic and thriving community of creators, collaborators, and friends.
Green and fluorescent pink color drum cylinders.
Director Panayiotis Terzis working with a student in the RisoLAB.