Reception: Fritz Scholder: 1974–1984

Tamarind Institute is pleased to present Fritz Scholder: 1974–1984, an exhibition showcasing 20 rarely seen lithographs created by the late American artist Fritz Scholder. Spanning a decade of his printmaking practice from 1974 to 1984, the selected works reflect Scholder’s increasing confidence with bold color, layered imagery and expressive mark-making on the press, and chart his evolving balance between figurative and symbolic abstraction, revealing an artist in constant dialogue with his materials and ideas. A closing reception will be held on Thursday, August 21, 4–6pm, with additional programming announced.

One of the first artists invited to collaborate with Tamarind Institute following its relocation from Los Angeles to Albuquerque in 1970, Scholder would go on to create more than 80 lithographs with the workshop over a 14-year period. Lithography became a critical medium for Scholder, offering new avenues for experimentation in color, form, and narrative, and reflecting his deep interest in serial processes. His Tamarind editions offers a vital lens through which to view his broader practice, and document a pivotal period of material and conceptual exploration.

His collaborations with Tamarind were equally significant for the workshop, helping to establish its new identity as a nonprofit entity within the University of New Mexico. Scholder’s early projects with Tamarind, including his 1971 portfolio Indians Forever, set a bold and influential standard for the workshop’s future as a leading publisher of contemporary prints by major artists.