Bio and Affiliation

Leslie Ross-Robertson is the owner and designer of Modern Optic, a contemporary design studio established in Los Angeles in 2001, and Wavelength Press, founded in 2012. Inspired by contemporary art and architecture, she creates work that integrates contemporary technology with the traditional art form of letterpress printmaking. Through her studio, Ross-Robertson aims to spark creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset within her community, supporting artists and craftspeople through letterpress education to foster the next generation of visionary creators. Her work prioritizes eco-friendly materials and supports social and environmental causes, resonating with individuals who appreciate the artistry and craft of printmaking. She has produced two lines of stationery, one printed on her Vandercook SP-20, as well as a series of prints. Ross-Robertson has worked with clients in the cultural and commercial spheres such as Lace Benefit Auction, Museum of Contemporary Art, Knoll, Nouvelles Images, Kneedler | Fauchère, Steelcase, Palm Springs Modernism Show, and Herman Miller.

In 2012, Ross-Robertson started Wavelength Press, focusing on collaboration with contemporary artists to produce special edition prints. This press is dedicated to fostering collaborations with contemporary artists to create special edition prints that push the boundaries of letterpress printmaking. Through this endeavor, she has had the privilege of working with esteemed artists and poets including Nancy Buchanan, Lecia Dole-Recio, Drew Heitzler, Harryette Mullen, Harsh Patel, Steve Roden, Alison Saar, Aram Saroyan, Brian Sharp, Evie Shockley, and Jonas Wood. 

She is currently teaching Hybrid Letterpress: Digital Design and Photopolymer Techniques for Graphic Design Illustration and is the Otis Laboratory Press Manager at Otis College of Art and Design.

 

Wendy Barrales’s Picture

Awards and Honors

Winner of People’s Choice Award for Pluto, New Impressions Exhibition 2022, Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, April 8 - June 30, 2022.

Publications

  • New Impressions Exhibition 2022 Catalog, Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, 2022.
  • Mirror, Mirror, the Prints of Alison Saar, Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation Publisher, DAP, 2019.
  • Jonas Wood Prints, Rizzoli Publisher, Spring 2019.
  • Ladies of Letterpress, Publisher Ivy Press, UK. April 2015.
  • From There to Here – Collaborative Letterpress Artist Book 2014-2015. Included in multiple exhibitions and placement in the following special collections:
    • University of Southern California, Doheny Library 
    • San Francisco Public Library Book Arts and Special Collections 
    • University of California, Santa Barbara 
    • University of Iowa Main Library Special Collections
    • University of California Berkeley Environmental Design Library 
    • University of California Santa Cruz, McHenry Library Special Collections 
    • University of Southern California, Arts Library Artist Book Collection 
    • Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Herron Art Library - Artists' Books Collection 
    • Cleveland Institute of Art, Gund Library Special Collections 
    • University of San Diego, Geisel Library 
    • University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 
    • Mills College Olin Library, Special Collections
    • Savannah College of Art & Design, Artists Books at the Jen Library
  • Vandercook 100: Celebrating 100 Artisans the 100 years of Printing on the Vandercook Proof Press, Publisher Just Vandy, by Heather Mitchell. 2012.
Leslie Ross-Robertson Work example
Leslie Ross-Robertson Work example
Leslie Ross-Robertson Work example
Leslie Ross-Robertson Work example
Leslie Ross-Robertson Work example

Professional Accomplishments and Exhibitions

Selected Professional Accomplishments

  • Special edition letterpress print with Alison Saar and LA Louvre, Rise, 2020. Full sales proceeds donated by Alison Saar, Leslie Ross-Robertson, and L.A. Louver to Dignity and Power Now (DPN), Summaeverythang Community Center, and Crenshaw Dairy Mart.
  • Special edition letterpress print with Alison Saar and author Evie Shockley coinciding with the exhibition Topsy Turvy, LA Louvre Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. Mar 28 - May 12, 2018.
  • Prints in collaboration with Jonas Wood for Wavelength Press: French Open, a four-pass letterpress print, 2012 and Hammer Interior, nineteen-pass letterpress print 2016.
  • Custom letterpress for Drew Heitzler, three-pass halftone incorporating a quote and image. Printed as a series on paper and neoprene. Dec. 2016 – Feb. 2017.
  • Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) – Custom letterpress work for Francesco Vezzoli, Cinema Vezzoli, March 2014.
  • Kneedler | Fauchère – Graphic Design and custom letterpress work including cards, invitations, and prints. 2011-2014.
  • Lace Benefit Art Auction 2011, print for Melissa Thorne in a limited edition artist portfolio featuring new work by Sarah Conaway, Lecia Dole Recio, Sandeep Mukherjee, Gina Osterloh, Eamon Ore-Giron, Heather Rasmussen, Steve Roden, Sean Sullivan, Melissa Thorne, and Liat Yossifor.
  • Palm Springs Modernism Show Vintage Trailer Exhibition - Tiny Trailer custom design for Just Fabulous. 2011.
  • Steelcase – Designed the invitation for the Broadway theatrical production, The Glass House, sponsored by Steelcase. 2010.
  • Knoll – Designed notecards featuring Knoll Studio furniture for Knoll marketing events. 2007. Cards re-issued in 2013.
  • Herman Miller – Designed several cards featuring Herman Miller furniture for showrooms and company use. 2004-2005.
  • Nouvelles Images – Licensed several holiday card designs to Nouvelles Images France and the United States for worldwide sales. 2003, 2004.

Selected Exhibitions

  • Steve Roden: floating over the silent world, prints in collaboration with Steve Roden, Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, July 20 - September 7, 2024.
  • (Re)Work It! Women Artists on Women’s Labor, prints in collaboration with Alison Saar, Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT, January 21, 2024 – May 19, 2024.
  • New Impressions Exhibition 2022, MICA in Baltimore, MD, February 10-March 4, 2023.
  • Los Angeles Printmaking Society: The 22nd National Print Exhibition, prints in collaboration with Alison Saar, Mixographia, Los Angeles, CA, October 15 – November 12, 2022.
  • New Impressions Exhibition 2022, Hamilton Woodtype & Printing Museum, April 8 - June 30, 2022.
  • Ink on Paper: A Letterpress Showcase, Argyros Forum, 2nd Floor, Chapman University, Orange, CA, July 30th, 2021–May 23rd, 2022.
  • Ink On Paper: A Letterpress Showcase, Irvine Great Park, April 4 - June 15, 2021.
  • TSS Summer Show, Bolsky Gallery, Otis College of Art & Design, August 2019.
  • Jonas Wood Prints, prints in collaboration with Jonas Wood, Gagosian Gallery, Madison Avenue, New York, NY, April 5 - May 25, 2018.
  • A Year Without Painting, prints in collaboration with Steve Roden, Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Los Angeles, CA, January 29 - March 5, 2016.
  • Ladies of Letterpress, Asheville BookWorks, Asheville, NC, Dec. 5 – Feb. 29, 2015.
  • With Love, Fifth Floor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, November 21, 2015 – December 20, 2015.
  • New Impressions in American Letterpress, Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, Two Rivers, WI, May 16 - June 30, 2015.
  • TL;DR, Presented by Michael Ned Holte and ArtSpace, prints in collaboration with Harsh Patel, Auckland, New Zealand, Oct 9 - Nov 8, 2014.
  • The Book as Art, Expanding the Limits, Presented by Decatur Arts Alliance, The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, Decatur, GA, July 18 - Sept 19, 2014, From There to Here collaborative artist book.
  • Bookworks 2014, Pacific Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA, From There to Here collaborative artist book, June 21 - Sept 6, 2014.
  • Binding Desire: Unfolding Artists Books, Presented by Ben Maltz Gallery, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA, Jan 25 - Mar 30, 2014, From There to Here collaborative artist book.
  • Words & Images: The Art of Letterpress Printing, Presented by the Coast Letterpress Guild, Vita Arts Center, Ventura, CA, Feb 1 - 24, 2013.
  • Fresh Prints of Los Angeles, Fifth Floor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, June 30 - August 26, 2012.