A Dialogue with Local Printmakers
A curator-led artist talk exploring the movement of artistic traditions across cultures and their reinterpretation in contemporary printmaking. Lucy Ralph and Mary Ellen Carsley, artists featured in *Impressions of Japan: A Dialogue with Local Printmakers*, will discuss their work, techniques, artistic influences, and the ways Japanese art and culture have shaped their creative practices.
Ralph works with intaglio etching to depict quiet, reflective moments in nature, creating intimate black-and-white prints. Carsley draws on traditional Japanese woodblock printing, or *mokuhanga*, and experiments with presentation formats including Japanese accordion-style books known as *orihon*. The conversation will consider how each artist’s background and experiences inform her approach to printmaking and image-making.
Lucy Ralph is a British multidisciplinary artist whose work includes painting and printmaking. She has exhibited in New York, Paris, London, and South Korea, and her work has appeared in publications including *Architectural Digest*. Her honors include the Clyde & Co Art Award and the Altarea Cogedim Art Award. While studying at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York, she learned Japanese printmaking techniques from Yasuyuki Shibata. Ralph studied at Central Saint Martins School of Art in London and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, lived and worked in Paris for eight years, and is now based in the Washington, DC area as an affiliate artist at Discover Graphics Atelier at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
Mary Ellen Carsley is an artist, former scientific and architectural illustrator, and educator who has taught in collegiate and museum settings. A trained architect, she has illustrated eight books and numerous articles for national and international journals, and continues to create illustrations for museums and cultural institutions. Her work is held by the National Building Museum and the Library of Congress. Working mainly in printmaking, watercolor, and ink, Carsley finds inspiration in insects, birds, and plants, using her art to reveal the intricate small worlds within the larger natural environment.
When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Showtime: 6:30 PM EST
Format: Curator-led conversation and artist talk
Artists: Lucy Ralph and Mary Ellen Carsley
Related exhibition: *Impressions of Japan: A Dialogue with Local Printmakers*
Venue: JICC Embassy of Japan
Tickets: Price not available
Registration: Registration is available through the event page.
Inquiries: jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp
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