Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics are both printmaking workshops that were founded around the same time, and both have played important roles in the development of contemporary printmaking. While the two workshops have many similarities in terms of their focus on collaboration and experimentation, they are separate entities with distinct histories and approaches to printmaking.
Gemini G.E.L. was founded in Los Angeles in 1966 by master printer Ken Tyler (who later went on to found Tyler Graphics) and a group of artists, including Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. The workshop quickly gained a reputation for its innovative techniques and collaborations with leading artists of the era, and became one of the most important printmaking workshops of the 20th century.
Tyler Graphics, on the other hand, was founded in Mount Kisco, New York in 1974 by Ken Tyler after he left Gemini G.E.L. Tyler was inspired by his experiences at Gemini G.E.L., but wanted to create a workshop that was more focused on collaboration and experimentation. Tyler Graphics quickly gained a reputation for its cutting-edge techniques and collaborations with some of the most important artists of the time, including Frank Stella, David Hockney, and Roy Lichtenstein.
While Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics are separate workshops with distinct histories, they share many similarities in terms of their approach to printmaking. Both workshops have been known for their close collaborations with artists, and have worked to push the boundaries of printmaking through the development of new techniques and materials.
In fact, the two workshops have even collaborated on a number of projects over the years. In the 1970s, Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics worked together to produce a series of prints by Ellsworth Kelly, which were printed at Gemini G.E.L. using Tyler Graphics' experimental techniques.
Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics have also both been instrumental in the development of digital printing techniques, which have become increasingly important in the field of printmaking. Gemini G.E.L. was one of the first workshops to experiment with digital printing in the 1980s, and has continued to explore the possibilities of the medium in the years since. Tyler Graphics has also embraced digital printing, and has worked with artists such as Frank Stella to create prints that combine traditional and digital printing techniques.
Despite their similarities and occasional collaborations, Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics remain distinct entities with their own unique approaches to printmaking. Gemini G.E.L. continues to operate in Los Angeles, and has expanded its offerings to include sculpture, painting, and other media. Tyler Graphics remains based in Mount Kisco, New York, and continues to focus on printmaking, bookbinding, and other print-related services. Both workshops have had a significant impact on the field of contemporary printmaking, and have helped to push the boundaries of what is possible in the medium.
