Ron Adams

Ron Adams (1934–2020) was a master printmaker, educator, and artist whose career bridged technical mastery and deep creative vision. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Adams honed his skills across a variety of institutions in the late 1950s and 1960s, studying at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, UCLA, and the University of Mexico, among others. In 1963, he earned a certificate of trade proficiency from Otis College of Art and Design, gaining expertise in lithography, engraving, drafting, and illustration.

Adams began as a commercial printer, designing the poster, murals, and motif for the 1968 Olympic Stadium in Mexico City while studying there. He went on to work in Los Angeles, where he rose to become a master printer, collaborating with leading artists such as John Biggers and Judy Chicago. In 1974, he founded Hand Graphics Ltd. in Santa Fe, a pioneering printmaking studio that supported both established and emerging artists. He later taught at the University of Texas, El Paso, and held artist residencies at Hampton University and the Tougaloo Art Colony.

After retiring from commercial printing in 1987, Adams dedicated himself fully to his own practice. His works have been exhibited across the U.S., from the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe to Vanderbilt University, and are held in prestigious collections including the Library of Congress and the National Museum of American Art.

Ron Adams passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of craftsmanship, mentorship, and artistic excellence.