Support USF art research by starting your own (affordable) art collection

The University of South Florida's Graphicstudio is holding its annual Benefit Sale with discounted art by contemporary artists. Find out where it is and why you should go.

 For Milca Rivera's spotlight on Trenton Hancock click here.


Tampa’s Graphicstudio invites all to its 12^th annual benefit sale

By Thayesha Lewin

Who says you can’t afford your own art collection? The Graphicstudio’s 12^th annual Benefit Sale is an opportunity for USF students and Tampa locals to start or expand upon their own art collections. Works by major contemporary artists will be at a discount of up to 60 percent off the regular list price.

The Graphicstudio Benefit Sale is a one-day-only event this Friday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will feature hundreds of original fine art prints and sculpture reproductions. There will be food and drinks served throughout the day.

“This is the one time you can see all of our inventory,” said Kristen Soderqvist, director of sales and marketing at the Graphicstudio. Soderqvist has coordinated the Graphicstudio Benefit Sale since its inception.  

“Fifty percent of the net sale supports Graphicstudio’s research and operations,” said Margaret Miller, director of the Institute for Research in Art (IRA) at USF.

Graphicstudio along with the Contemporary Art Museumand the Public Art Program form the IRA in the College of The Arts at USF. The IRA is recognized by the state of Florida as a major cultural institution.

Located behind the Embassy Suites Hotel on 3702 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 100, Graphicstudio is among other suites in the buildings within the USF Research Park. While most of the research in the area is focused on science and technology, the Graphicstudio, founded by professor Donald J. Saff in 1968, researches and experiments with art.

The Graphicstudio may not be well-known among the students at USF Tampa, but its influence is international.  The university-based atelier, or artists’ studio, has supplied the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the New York Public Library and the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota with art editions. In 1990, an archive of USF Graphicstudio’s publications was established at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Visitors to the Graphicstudio will find every wall decorated with art prints and an opportunity to watch staff members and professional artists at work.

Chuck Close, Vik Muniz, Trenton Doyle Hancock and over a hundred other artists have progressed new concepts and approaches during their work in residence at the Graphicstudio. It is the freedom that artists are given to experiment, as well as the talented faculty and staff on hand, that has attracted world-renowned contemporary artists to the USF Graphicstudio.

Tim Baker, a research associate and printer at the Graphicstudio, collaborates with guest artists on new projects and produces finished editions of those projects.

“Since Graphicstudio is not a commercial atelier we can allow artists to experiment with techniques and materials that can be prohibitively time consuming and expensive,” said Baker.  “The benefit sale is incredibly important for generating revenue for operating expenses and it is normally very successful for us.”

“Revenue from sales is used to support student internships, artist’s travel and accomodations while in Tampa,” said Miller, “materials like copper plates, salaries of part time staff, rent, and new equipment.”

Ongoing research by Graphicstudio has lead to the development of new processes and treatments of traditional methods, such as waxtype and heliorelief.

The Graphicstudio also offers educational programs to art students, arts professionals and the public. Some students have used the training they received to become artists, curators, gallery owners, and printers.

During the benefit sale this week, the staff will take a pause from their usual work schedule to chat with visitors. 

“Staff will be available to explain the history of each piece. Every piece has a story of why the artist made it, how it was made and why it was made that way,” said Soderqvist.

Photos of some Graphicstudio art:

Art photo gallery