Flat File 12: KEN HALE on September 13

At Flatbed Press, we house over 100 drawers—our “flat files”—filled with original prints by a wide range of artists. These prints represent an incredible variety of styles, techniques, and voices in contemporary printmaking.

Flat File Saturdays are special days when we highlight one artist from our collection. We open their drawer, carefully pull out their prints, and display them for visitors to explore. It’s a chance to see work up close, learn more about the artist’s process, and engage in meaningful conversations about printmaking.

We also focus on selecting prints that are on the more affordable side—making it a perfect opportunity for anyone interested in starting or growing their art collection.

Here’s our featured drawer for Saturday, September 13th!

Ken Hale

Ken Hale is a renowned American printmaker, painter, and educator, celebrated for his innovative contributions to lithography and his long tenure at the University of Texas at Austin, where he founded the Guest Artist in Printmaking Program. He earned his M.F.A. in Lithography from the University of Illinois and later established KJH Press in 1979—a private studio dedicated to his own work and select artist collaborations.

Hale’s prints often combine bold graphic elements with layered textures and collage, exploring themes of popular culture, language, and abstraction. His work has been featured in over two dozen solo exhibitions and more than 150 group shows worldwide, and is held in major collections including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. Flatbed has had the privilege of collaborating with Hale on three etchings and a series of monoprints, and we maintain a deep inventory of his lithographs and other works on paper that will be on display this Saturday and are available for purchase. 

Join us for a relaxed afternoon of art browsing and community.  Explore Ken Hale's prints and find something new to love, and enjoy a little snack while you linger. It’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday—slow, inspiring, and full of good company.

Ken Hale, untitled (Locomotive), color etching, 29 x 41 inches, edition of 7, 2006