WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Corcoran Gallery of Art is pleased to publish its first print portfolio as part of its program to support and promote contemporary printmaking. The Corcoran 2005 Print Portfolio: Drawn to Representation includes 24 internationally recognized printmakers; the portfolio’s publishing coincides with the annual meeting of the Southern Graphics Council and an array of related print exhibitions in the nation's capital. The Corcoran 2005 Print Portfolio is on view at the Corcoran Gallery of Art through June 20, 2005.

The artists featured in The Corcoran 2005 Print Portfolio are Jack Boul, Livio Ceschin (Italy), Warrington Colescott, Rob Evans, David Faber, Stephen Fisher, Rupert Garcia, Komar and Melamid (Russia), Andrew Krieger, Hung Liu, Mark Leithauser, Pavel Makov (Ukraine), David Morrison, Jacques Muron (France), Igor Makarevich (Russia), Lee Newman, Hélène Nué (France), Andrew Raftery, Charles Ritchie, Jörg Schmeisser (Germany, working in Australia), Renée Stout, Evan Summer, William T. Wiley and Safid Zec (Bosnia, working in Italy).

The Corcoran 2005 Print Portfolio celebrates two important aspects of the contemporary print scene: an abiding interest in the traditional craft of printmaking and the continuing use of representation as a viable mode of artistic expression. Each of the 24 artists was chosen for proven achievement in the graphic arts, for distinctive draftsmanship, and for a keen sense of design. These are, in every sense, printmakers as printmakers. A varied selection of international artists gives the portfolio multiple approaches to the imagery of real and imaginary landscapes and cities, villages, buildings and interiors, figures and still life arrangements. The prints in the portfolio will be shown alongside other prints by the participating artists as well as a a selection of original printing blocks, stones and plates; following its presentation at the Corcoran, the portfolio will be available to travel as an exhibition to museums and galleries around the country.

Dr. Eric Denker, Corcoran Curator of Prints and Drawings, is the organizer of the portfolio project and exhibition and coordinated the production of the prints, the touring show, the printing of the brochure, portfolio boxes and matting and framing for the exhibition. Each artist represented in the portfolio receives one complete set for their participation. Additional portfolios will be offered to other institutions of international repute in New York, Washington, London and Paris to support the inclusion in major collections of art of work by the participating artists, many of whom have a longstanding relationship with the Corcoran Gallery of Art.