While we praise iconic artists like Andy Warhol for popularizing screen printing, we have the Song Dynasty (dating back to 960-1279 AD) to thank for the art. Initially, the Song Dynasty utilized the method of screen printing for transferring designs onto fabrics. From there, screen printing found its way to Japan and then later, in the 18th century, made its way to Europe and the western world.
We could spill a little more digital ink about serigraphy and commercial screen printing in the early 20th century, but it’s the 1960s where the artform took off, with folks like Sister Mary Corita Kent, Peter Blake, and Robert Rauschenberg doing a little more than just dabbling in the art form and becoming household names in the process (well, at least to us).
Because screen printing materials are affordable and available, it’s been utilized in underground settings, subcultures, and non-professional manners. You can see the aesthetic throughout modern culture, from movie posters and album covers to advertising and fashion design.
The vibrant history of screen printing is captivating in itself, but today we’ve gone the extra mile and are sharing five artists that present their neon screenprinting creations on Instagram.
It’s hot neon summer anyway, right?
Brian Giles | @sonofafoxx
Brian Giles is an artist based in Dublin. His work is energetic, emotional, layered, and engrossing. He often creates commissioned pieces that are family portraits turned into works of vibrant pop art. One of his prints centers on the beloved icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and features her image in a bright blue adorned with glowing rose-colored glasses. His abstract pieces are also encapsulating with their geometric shapes, layered colors, and intricate details. Not that followers are everything, but it’s hard to believe Brian has less than 5,000 with his sheer talent and a sharp eye for design.
Ricardo Côrte | @rcorte1
If you ever wanted to take a visual trip to a world where the 50s and the 80s collided, welcome to the world of Ricardo Côrte’s feed. Think sensual images paired with pop art iconography mixed with bright colors, all crashing into the art of screen printing. It’s a beautifully curated world that, honestly, we should all drizzle into our own lives and designs for passion and a little touch of glamour.
Montez | @montezmakes
Talk about a neon explosion of design and passion. Montez is a Sussex-based artist who creates prints that make you feel pulled between romance and disorder and then wonder if they’re two of the same. Think disheartened images paired with bursts of bright colors chaotically painted across the canvas. It’s a poetic approach to screenprinting, and the juxtaposition and depth of emotion emitted from each piece keep us faithfully scrolling for more.
Nathalie Kingdon | @nathaliekingdon
Nathalie Kingdon is a French screen printer based in London. Her images often find inspiration in her love of the South of France, and she loves designing with color, symmetry, and different viewpoints. Her prints feature geometrical designs that ooze with retro-futurism, and the images speak to the carefree and sun-drenched seaside holidays, upscale shopping, and gourmet dining that the South of France has to offer. Her feed is a tropical oasis of screen printing, genuinely.
Alice Charman | @charm__prints
Floral, bright, and flirty are the three words I’d use to describe Alice Charman’s Instagram feed. Each piece is an explosion of color and features pairings made for each other. You’ll even find the sweetest subjects, like honey bees with blue wings and other aesthetically pleasing perspectives. Alice’s screenprints exude a calming sense of approachability, and I’m afraid I’m about to drop some serious cash over at her Etsy shop.
