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Kress Contemporary Inc

Kress Contemporary fosters artistic collaboration and community engagement through multidisciplinary exhibitions, workshops, and programs, supporting artists and promoting access to the visual and performing arts in Ybor City.

Monotype Printmaking Workshop Join artist William Downs for a hands-on monotype printmaking workshop on Sunday, February 22, from 12:00&ndash;3:00 PM, at the Kress Press Printmaking Lab at Kress Contemporary (1624 E 7th Ave).Monotype is a printmaking process that produces a single, unique image by applying ink directly onto a smooth, non-absorbent surface and transferring that image to paper using pressure. Because most of the ink transfers during the first impression, monotypes do not result in multiple identical prints like other printmaking methods. Any subsequent &ldquo;ghost&rdquo; prints are lighter and considered distinct works. In this workshop, participants will learn basic monotype techniques, including inking, mark-making, layering, and image transfer, while experimenting with texture, spontaneity, and chance in a collaborative studio setting.The workshop is presented by Kress Contemporary in partnership with Tempus Projects, and is sponsored by the University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and Performance with support from Bank of America.Space is limited to 12 participants.This is an all-ages workshop (ages 12 and up). Artists under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or chaperone. About the ArtistWilliam Downs is a contemporary American artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Working across drawing, painting, printmaking, and installation, his practice centers on an ongoing investigation of the line as both a formal structure and a conceptual tool. Downs treats the line as an unstable and generative force, pushing its limits through repetition, distortion, and transformation.His work draws from familiar forms that gradually shift into ambiguous and surreal configurations. Through seriality, figures and shapes evolve beyond recognition, disrupting expectation and producing a quiet tension that invites sustained looking. Rather than relying on fantasy, Downs locates the surreal within the ordinary, using subtle alterations to challenge perception and meaning.Downs received a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from the Atlanta College of Art and Design and an MFA from the Mount Royal School of Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art. His work has been presented in solo exhibitions at Sandler Hudson Gallery, Band of Vices Gallery, Derek Eller Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, and the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. Group exhibitions include the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Tempus Projects, Whitespace Gallery, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and the Martin Museum of Art at Wesleyan University.His work is included in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the High Museum of Art, the Coca-Cola Museum of Art, the Clark Museum of Art, and the Birmingham Museum of Art, among others. About the PartnersKress ContemporaryKress Contemporary is a multidisciplinary arts campus in historic Ybor City, supporting artists through exhibitions, studios, workshops, and community programming. The space is dedicated to fostering collaboration, experimentation, and public engagement across the visual and performing arts. University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and PerformanceThe University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and Performance supports innovative teaching, research, and community engagement across the arts. Through public programs and partnerships, the college works to expand access to arts education and connect academic resources with the broader community. Tempus ProjectsTempus Projects is a nonprofit visual arts organization that supports contemporary artists through exhibitions, residencies, publications, and public programs. Known for its experimental and collaborative approach, Tempus Projects creates opportunities for artists and audiences to engage with timely ideas and emerging practices.

Monotype Workshop with William Downs

Knight Parade / Valentine&rsquo;s Day Party at Kress ContemporarySaturday, February 14 | 6:00&ndash;9:00 PM Celebrate Valentine&rsquo;s Day in true Ybor City style with a festive Knight Parade viewing party at Kress Contemporary&rsquo;s new event space. Overlooking historic 7th Avenue, this one-night-only gathering offers a prime perch for one of Ybor&rsquo;s most electric traditions&mdash;plus drinks, music, and good company.Guests will enjoy access to our indoor event space throughout the evening, with rotating access to the building&rsquo;s balcony overlooking 7th Avenue&mdash;an ideal vantage point to watch the parade roll by, away from the crowds below. Tickets: $25&bull; Includes your first drink&bull; Cash bar available&bull; Party snacks provided Important note about balcony access: The balcony comfortably accommodates up to 40 guests at a time. With 100 total tickets available for the party, balcony access will rotate so everyone has the opportunity to step out, take in the parade, and enjoy the view. Whether you&rsquo;re coming with a date, friends, or just your love for Ybor City, this is a Valentine&rsquo;s night made for celebration&mdash;parade lights, cocktails in hand, and the best vantage point in the neighborhood.

Knight Parade / Valentine's Day at Kress Contemporary (Balcony Access)

Collagraph Plate-making Workshop Saturday, March 7 | 12:00&ndash;3:00 PMKress Press Printmaking Lab at Kress Contemporary (1624 E 7th Ave) Join artist William Downs for an experimental collagraph printmaking workshop exploring texture, layering, and surface.Collagraph is a printmaking process in which artists build a printing plate by collaging materials&mdash;such as cardboard, fabric, string, and found textures&mdash;onto a rigid surface. The plate is then sealed, inked, and run through a press to transfer the image to paper. The result is a richly textured print that reflects both the physicality of the materials and the hand of the artist.In this workshop, participants will construct their own collagraph plates, and observe with inking techniques, and explore the relationship between surface, pressure, and image. Emphasis will be placed on material exploration, composition, and the unpredictable beauty of plate construction.An additional printing workshop TBA. The workshop is presented by Kress Contemporary in partnership with Tempus Projects, and is sponsored by the University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and Performance with support from Bank of America.Space is limitedThis is an all-ages workshop (ages 12 and up). Artists under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or chaperone. About the ArtistWilliam Downs is a contemporary American artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Working across drawing, painting, printmaking, and installation, his practice centers on an ongoing investigation of the line as both a formal structure and a conceptual tool. Downs treats the line as an unstable and generative force, pushing its limits through repetition, distortion, and transformation.His work draws from familiar forms that gradually shift into ambiguous and surreal configurations. Through seriality, figures and shapes evolve beyond recognition, disrupting expectation and producing a quiet tension that invites sustained looking. Rather than relying on fantasy, Downs locates the surreal within the ordinary, using subtle alterations to challenge perception and meaning.Downs received a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from the Atlanta College of Art and Design and an MFA from the Mount Royal School of Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art. His work has been presented in solo exhibitions at Sandler Hudson Gallery, Band of Vices Gallery, Derek Eller Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, and the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. Group exhibitions include the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Tempus Projects, Whitespace Gallery, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and the Martin Museum of Art at Wesleyan University.His work is included in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the High Museum of Art, the Coca-Cola Museum of Art, the Clark Museum of Art, and the Birmingham Museum of Art, among others. About the PartnersKress ContemporaryKress Contemporary is a multidisciplinary arts campus in historic Ybor City, supporting artists through exhibitions, studios, workshops, and community programming. The space is dedicated to fostering collaboration, experimentation, and public engagement across the visual and performing arts. University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and PerformanceThe University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and Performance supports innovative teaching, research, and community engagement across the arts. Through public programs and partnerships, the college works to expand access to arts education and connect academic resources with the broader community. Tempus ProjectsTempus Projects is a nonprofit visual arts organization that supports contemporary artists through exhibitions, residencies, publications, and public programs. Known for its experimental and collaborative approach, Tempus Projects creates opportunities for artists and audiences to engage with timely ideas and emerging practices.

Collagraph Plate-making Workshop with William Downs

Relief Printmaking WorkshopSaturday, April 11 | 12:00&ndash;3:00 PMKress Press Printmaking Lab at Kress Contemporary (1624 E 7th Ave) Join artist William Downs for a hands-on introduction to relief printmaking, one of the oldest and most direct forms of print.Relief printing involves carving into a surface&mdash;such as linoleum or wood&mdash;so that the raised areas hold ink while the carved-away areas remain blank. When pressed onto paper, the inked surface creates a bold and graphic image defined by contrast, line, and rhythm. In this workshop, participants will learn basic carving techniques, safe tool handling, inking methods, and printing processes. Through guided exercises, artists will explore how line, pattern, and repetition can create dynamic compositions.The workshop is presented by Kress Contemporary in partnership with Tempus Projects, and is sponsored by the University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and Performance with support from Bank of America.Space is limitedThis is an all-ages workshop (ages 12 and up). Artists under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or chaperone. About the ArtistWilliam Downs is a contemporary American artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Working across drawing, painting, printmaking, and installation, his practice centers on an ongoing investigation of the line as both a formal structure and a conceptual tool. Downs treats the line as an unstable and generative force, pushing its limits through repetition, distortion, and transformation.His work draws from familiar forms that gradually shift into ambiguous and surreal configurations. Through seriality, figures and shapes evolve beyond recognition, disrupting expectation and producing a quiet tension that invites sustained looking. Rather than relying on fantasy, Downs locates the surreal within the ordinary, using subtle alterations to challenge perception and meaning.Downs received a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from the Atlanta College of Art and Design and an MFA from the Mount Royal School of Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art. His work has been presented in solo exhibitions at Sandler Hudson Gallery, Band of Vices Gallery, Derek Eller Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, and the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. Group exhibitions include the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Tempus Projects, Whitespace Gallery, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and the Martin Museum of Art at Wesleyan University.His work is included in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the High Museum of Art, the Coca-Cola Museum of Art, the Clark Museum of Art, and the Birmingham Museum of Art, among others. About the PartnersKress ContemporaryKress Contemporary is a multidisciplinary arts campus in historic Ybor City, supporting artists through exhibitions, studios, workshops, and community programming. The space is dedicated to fostering collaboration, experimentation, and public engagement across the visual and performing arts. University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and PerformanceThe University of South Florida&rsquo;s College of Art, Design and Performance supports innovative teaching, research, and community engagement across the arts. Through public programs and partnerships, the college works to expand access to arts education and connect academic resources with the broader community. Tempus ProjectsTempus Projects is a nonprofit visual arts organization that supports contemporary artists through exhibitions, residencies, publications, and public programs. Known for its experimental and collaborative approach, Tempus Projects creates opportunities for artists and audiences to engage with timely ideas and emerging practices.

Kress Contemporary Inc

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Collagraph Plate-making Workshop with William Downs

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Relief Workshop with William Downs

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