The LSU School of Art will host the 2026 Mid America Print Council (MAPC) Conference Printelligence October 7-10, 2026 at LSU. Led by printmaking faculty organizers Leslie Koptcho and Lauren Cardenas, the national annual conference will bring printmakers from around the country to Baton Rouge.

“How can print media operate intelligently and with empathy in many spheres? The unique properties of printmaking offer not just tools and prescriptive processes, but a vital and physical way of understanding the world. Since its inception, printmakers have been utilizing a matrix as a form of “generative intelligence,” a process by which the totality of the artist’s intellect, experiences, and skills is employed to interact with materials and technologies to create something heretofore unseen or unexpected. We welcome hearing about innovative, cross-disciplinary collaborations, especially those between art and science,” the MAPC wrote.

The conference will bring together artists and art educators to Louisiana, presenting a range of learning opportunities for LSU students.

Exhibitions

LSU College of Art & Design Galleries with LSU School of Art and the MAPC are pleased to announce a series of exhibitions in conjunction with Printelligence:

Dario Robleto: Love, Before There Was Love

Glassell Gallery; September 5–October 11, 2026 

Reception: Thursday, October 8, 6–8 p.m. 

On view at Glassell Gallery in downtown Baton Rouge, Dario Robleto’s work merges poetic and scientific, material and immaterial, heart and mind. 

Intelligent Worlds: Celebrating LSU Printmaking Alumni 

The Gallery at Manship Theatre; August 24–October 18, 2026 

Reception: Thursday, October 8, 6–8 p.m. 

Intelligent Worlds highlights Louisiana State University’s vital role in training fine artists who push the boundaries of printmaking. Curated by Professor Leslie Koptcho, this exhibition features ten exceptional LSU alumni with robust creative practices and national or international influence. Coinciding with Printelligence, the exhibition is meant to showcase the printmaking program’s enduring legacy while elevating the visibility of the LSU School of Art. 
 
This exhibition is partially funded by the LSU Provost’s Fund for Innovation in Research and hosted in collaboration with LSU College of Art & Design, LSU School of Art, and Manship Theatre.  

The Mid America Print Council is an educational and community-based organization that focuses on all print related arts. Embracing both time-honored and innovative approaches, MAPC promotes awareness and appreciation of traditional and contemporary forms of printmaking. 

Mid America Print Council Members Juried Exhibition 

The Clark and Laura Boyce Gallery; September 11–October 10, 2026 

Reception: Friday, October 9, 7:15–8:45 p.m. 

The Mid America Print Council (MAPC) and Louisiana State University (LSU) are pleased to announce the 2026 Annual Juried Members’ Exhibition at the Clark and Laura Boyce Gallery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The exhibition features 52 artworks in a range of printmaking media by 51 artists from around the nation. With 516 entries from 185 artists, this year’s exhibition was especially competitive.  

The exhibition was juried by Brandon V. Lewis, Director of the Helis Foundation John Scott Center and Louisiana–based visual artist whose work serves as a living archive of memory, heritage, and Southern Black life. Mr. Lewis thoughtfully selected works to create an exhibition that highlights the adaptable and expressive qualities of the printmaking medium. 

Collaborating with Ghosts: Recent Works by Jenny Schmid 

The Gallery at Barnes Ogden Art & Design Complex; September 17–October 14, 2026 

On view in The Gallery at Barnes Ogden Art & Design Complex, Mid America Print Conference Outstanding Printmaker Jenny’ Schmid will present her recent work, including works from Disembodied Reembodied.