Exhibition

Magnolia Editions: Beyond the Press

April 10 – June 20, 2027

Bedford Gallery

An exhibition featuring 30 artists, highlighting Magnolia Editions’ 45-year impact on art through innovative printmaking and tapestry production

A stylized artwork showing a bowing figure in colorful clothing set against a dark background. A larger, outlined figure with multiple arms appears behind the figure, along with floral motifs and decorative elements surrounding both figures.

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Wednesday–Sunday  12 p.m.–5 p.m.

Free

ADA Accessible. Bedford Gallery is located on the ground floor of the Lesher Center.

Magnolia Editions: Beyond the Press celebrates the profound impact Oakland-based Magnolia Editions has had on the contemporary art world through innovation in printmaking and tapestry production. As one of Northern California’s most influential collaborative print studios for the past 45 years, Magnolia Editions has partnered with artists working across disciplines to realize ambitious projects that have shaped contemporary practice on an international level. Through print multiples, unique works on paper, editioned textiles, and large-scale commissions, the studio has fostered experimentation while advancing both traditional craftsmanship and emerging technologies.

The exhibition highlights Northern California’s artistic legacy through the lens of this significant institution whose influence extends far beyond the Bay Area. Centering on the collaborative print studio, the exhibition examines the technical innovation, creative partnerships, and production processes that make ambitious artistic work possible. By bringing together works by numerous artists connected through Magnolia Editions, including 24 artists who live (or lived) in Northern California and another six with significant ties to the area, the exhibition offers audiences a deeper understanding of the collaborative networks, experimentation, and shared creative spirit that make this region a leader in modern and contemporary art.

Exhibiting Artists

Aldo Farnsworth, Alexandre Arrechea, Amalia Mesa-Bains, Amy Ellingson, Bruce Conner, Calida Rawles, Chuck Close, Claire Van Vliet, Clare Rojas, Deborah Oropallo, Ed Moses, Enrique Chagoya, Era Farnsworth, Faisal Abdu’Allah, George Miyasaki, Guillermo Galindo, Guy Diehl, Hughen/Starkweather, Hung Liu, Joan Brown, Judy Chicago, Katherine Sherwood, Kiki Smith, Kota Ezawa, Mark Stock, Masami Teraoka, Mildred Howard, Miya Ando, Ralph Goings, Ranu Mukherjee, Raymond Saunders, Richard Shaw, Richard Wagener, Robert Arneson, Rupert Garcia, Squeak Carnwath, Timothy Berry, Val Britton, William T. Wiley, Xiaoze Xie

A wide, detailed illustration featuring a procession of stylized, fantastical figures and animals, including elaborately adorned riders on horses, mythological creatures, and framed portrait-like images. The scene is filled with intricate patterns, symbolic objects, floating elements, and banners with text, all set against a pastel sky and ground.
A still-life composition set against a multi-colored abstract painted background. In the center stands a tall, rectangular package wrapped in textured white paper and tied with a thin string. Leaning against the lower right of the package is a small postcard featuring a line drawing of a nude female figure with arms raised behind her head, rendered in blue and black outlines on a yellowed background. A coiled, light-colored seashell rests on the surface directly in front of the postcard. To the left of the package, a small, pale yellow sphere sits on top of a gray, cube-shaped block. The entire arrangement rests on a smooth, reflective surface that shows soft reflections of the objects.
A stylized artwork showing a silhouetted figure leaning forward against a textured pink and green background. The figure is surrounded by many circular, bubble-like shapes containing various patterns and colors. Some small objects, including a cup and a flame, appear within the layered composition.
A collage-style artwork featuring a variety of illustrated objects, including a witch-like figure riding a broom with a cat, broken blue China pieces, playing cards, a pair of scissors, a large hat, and a detailed pagoda-like building. A bird appears in the lower right, and bold, colorful text and graphic shapes are layered throughout the composition.
A surreal painting of a tree with twisting branches and leaves, each leaf containing a single illustrated eye. The tree stands against a muted green background, and a white candelabra silhouette appears on the left side. The composition blends organic forms with symbolic, eye-like shapes across the foliage.

Enrique Chagoya, The Waters of Oblivion in Mictlán (detail), 2021. Layered acrylic ink, gold leaf, and varnish on amate paper, 21 ½ x 87 in. Courtesy of the artist and Magnolia Editions

Exhibition Support

Many thanks to the Diablo Regional Arts Association and Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation.

Transportation Sponsor: Starline; Event Sponsor: Montesacro.

The Diablo Regional Arts Association logo featuring the organization’s name in bold black text, with the word “Arts” accented by a curved yellow shape extending from its right side.
A square logo featuring a stylized mountain landscape inside a rectangular frame. The graphic shows two overlapping hills with three curved horizontal lines suggesting terrain. Below the image, the words “Lesher Foundation” appear in bold, uppercase lettering.
The Montesacro logo displays the word “Montesacro” in tall, bold black lettering centered on a pale pink background, with a thin horizontal red line positioned below the text.
The Starline Airport Car Service logo features a stylized airplane flying above a circular design containing simplified map lines. The circle is outlined with curved red and dark blue accents. Below the graphic, the words “Starline Airport Car Service” appear in bold, uppercase lettering.

Bedford Gallery

For nearly 60 years, Bedford Gallery has presented exceptional exhibitions and public programs. Known for its innovative approach to contemporary art, the Bedford showcases regional, national, and international artists and fosters creativity, dialogue, and lifelong learning for audiences of all ages

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Things to Do Around Here

  • Tellus Coffee has excellent espresso, creative drinks, and a bright, plant-filled space great for working or unwinding.

    1410 N Main St, Walnut Creek

    Emilee Enders, Curator of Exhibitions & Programs, Bedford Gallery

  • Montesacro offers standout Roman style pinsa, fresh pastas, and a warm, elegant atmosphere—perfect for a relaxed night out.

    1686 Locust St, Walnut Creek

    Randy Taradash, Marketing Supervisor, Lesher Center for the Arts

  • Standing over 32 feet tall, Beniamino Bufano’s Hand of Peace has graced Walnut Creek’s Civic Park since 2014, featuring copper, glass, and more than 1,000 pounds of tile, including stained-glass fingertips and mosaics depicting children—a monumental work that traveled from Bufano’s San Francisco studio to its current home in the East Bay.

    Walnut Creek, CA 94596

    Erica Schulz, Assistant Curator, Bedford Gallery

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