Race Matters? Racism Matters!

A man with his feet planted firmly in the past, Amos Kennedy is a letterpress printer, papermaker, and builder of artist's books. His work embodies his passion for stirring up strong emotions and encouraging people to think in previously unexplored ways.

Letterpress printer, papermaker, book artist and teacher, Kennedy describes his art as responding to the idea of "racism" through posters, postcards, prints, books and other printed matter. A computer programmer and systems analyst until the age of 40, Kennedy became fascinated with the idea of letterpress printing during a family trip to William Parks' press and bookbindery in Colonial Williamsburg, Va. Setting up a small press in his basement, Kennedy returned to school, earning a master of fine arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Today, Kennedy puts his collection of thousands of rare wood and lead block letters to full-time use, printing media for individual collectors and retail clients, as well as show card posters for local and regional events. His work can be found in such collections as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, N.Y; the University of Illinois Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Art, Urbana; and the UC (University of California) Santa Barbara Library. He is a regular exhibitor at the Kentuck Festival, Northport, Ala., and his work is sold at galleries and museum shops across the South. Kennedy has lectured and taught internationally and was profiled in the 2008 documentary, "Proceed and Be Bold!"