Matina Marki Tillman: The Weight of the Instant
In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary printmaking, few artists capture the delicate interplay between presence and absence as powerfully as longtime Washington Printmakers member artist, Matina Marki Tillman. Her work invites us to pause, to inhabit the liminal spaces between thought and action, intimacy and distance. For the current WPG Member Show, Tillman presents two pieces that exemplify her signature approach—works that are as technically accomplished as they are psychologically resonant.
A Journey Through Humanography
Matina Marki Tillman is a printmaker whose practice is deeply rooted in the concept she calls Humanography—a visual exploration of the human condition through fleeting states of mind and subtle shifts in posture. Trained in both traditional and experimental printmaking techniques, Tillman combines digital processes with hand-pulled methods to create works that feel timeless yet contemporary. Her art often begins with drawings—charcoal, ink, or pencil on vellum; stylus to acetate—before evolving into solar plate etchings, often enriched with hand-coloring additions (watercolor, pastel, pencil). These prints are layered with meaning and texture, carrying her statement: “Both pieces are related to my upcoming ‘Humanography’ series echoing contemporary tales, myths and legends. These two solar plate etchings are portraits presented in the form of a larger-than-life mural that blends with an arched piano keyboard (capturing the bypassers’ attention), and of a humble profile of harmonic beauty, escorted and highlighted by a crescent of roses. The forms unite into an imaginary circle in their presentation on the gallery wall as well.”
Featured Works
• Starry radiates quiet intensity. Its delicate etched lines and tonal contrasts evoke a moment of introspection—a pause in the rhythm of life. Tillman shares, “The pieces are pretty much personal; they preserve shapes and memories of people that meant a lot to me, taking almost legendary dimensions in my life. After 20 years (Starry), and one year (Dawn of Roses), I felt that I could share the pieces with people that never knew them, to see if their aura could somehow influence them, in other ways.” [Medium: Solar plate etching; Image Size: 14” × 9”; Framed Size: 20” × 14” Price: $600]
• A lyrical composition that merges the fine lines of etching with the softness of watercolor, Dawn of Roses speaks of renewal and grace. Its crescent of roses frames a profile of dignifiedbeauty, inviting viewers to linger in its quiet elegance.[Medium: Solar plate etching with watercolor additions; Image Size: 14” × 10”; Framed Size: 20” × 15”; Price: $600]
Why These Pieces Matter
Both works resonate with Tillman’s fascination with the “weight of the instant”—those imperceptible shifts that can alter the trajectory of a life. They also reiterate a timeless consideration: “…And to pose again the never-ending question: What is really a portrait? When one stands in front of a Fayum, for instance, what’s the appeal that makes the viewer hold and study it? Is a still portrait enough to resonate the essence of the portrayed person, beyond its likeness and captured state?”
Both are original prints; each is hand-pulled and enriched with unique details. Tillman’s conceptual depth, rooted in Humanography, reflects nuanced human emotions and fleeting instants. Starry and Dawn of Roses embody Tillman’s ability to transform personal memory into universal experience. These works are not just images; they are meditations on identity, time, and substance in the moments that echo long after we leave the gallery.
Washington Printmakers Gallery is a leading venue for fine art prints in the Washington, DC area.