Imagine stepping into a world where art is not just seen but made. That’s URDLA. This international center for original prints and books is in Villeurbanne. URDLA is a unique association. It combines print workshops, an art gallery, and a bookshop. It preserves technical and artisanal heritage. It supports contemporary creation. It shares its productions with the public.
URDLA’s story began in 1978. Max Schoendorff was a painter close to the Surrealists. He and other artists saved a Lyon lithography workshop from destruction. It was outdated and failing. Initially, URDLA was a collective workshop for printmaking. It gradually became an art publisher for contemporary creation. Over time, URDLA added new techniques like engraving and typography.
In the early 1980s, the Culture Ministry gave URDLA the largest press ever built. This meant moving to Villeurbanne. The new space was a renovated factory of 1000 square meters. In 1990, URDLA partnered with a Swiss workshop to open its own intaglio studio.
What exactly does URDLA do? It selects and invites artists for residencies. About a dozen artists come each year. They can practice original printmaking. URDLA provides the equipment and staff. This helps them develop their projects. These projects include relief printing, intaglio, lithography, and typography. After a residency, the public can see the prints and meet the artist. This happens at a BAT event meaning bon à tirer.
Each year, URDLA organizes four to five exhibitions. These can be solo or group shows. They present creations made within the center. Each exhibition includes events like talks and artist meetings. Guided tours and practical workshops are available. These are for amateurs, collectors, and school groups.
URDLA publishes original prints. Artists create the matrices themselves. Each print has a limited run. It’s usually about twenty copies. The artist signs and numbers each copy. The prints are then divided. The artist keeps the even numbers. URDLA sells the odd numbers. They also keep one copy for the archives. Another copy goes to the Bibliothèque Nationale de France for legal deposit.
Since 1978, URDLA has published over 2,500 prints. These are by 300 artists from around the world. The artists have diverse practices and generations. Some of these artists are Damien Deroubaix, Émilie Ding, and Rémy Jacquier. Others include Alison Knowles, Marcia Hafif, and Mario Merz. You might also recognize Jean-Luc Parant, Jacques Villeglé, Claude Viallat, Robert Wilson, and Gilles Ghez.
URDLA also publishes several book collections. These include Livres de peintre and Fil à plomb. There is Aperçu and Avant post. Don’t forget Hurdle and La source d’Urd. URDLA also publishes exhibition catalogs. “Ça presse” is a periodical that accompanies some exhibitions.
Initially, URDLA stood for “Union régionale pour le développement de la lithographie d’art”. It then became “Utopie raisonnée pour les droits de la liberté en art.” Today, URDLA preserves printmaking skills. It supports contemporary art. It opens its doors to all. It’s a vibrant part of Villeurbanne’s cultural scene. Especially as Villeurbanne was the French Capital of Culture in 2022. URDLA is more than a workshop. It’s a living testament to the power of art and collaboration.