Color Jams & RISO Inspirations in Chicago
We wandered into a local risograph event and came out totally inspired by the colors, the quirks, and the amazing artists behind it all.
Yesterday, my husband and I peeked into a risograph event held at Lot’sa—a lively little community art space in Irving Park, Chicago.
And oh boy, it was packed! Artists, zinesters, print nerds, and RISO lovers... The walls were overflowing with glorious colors and glorious people. 🌈✨
It instantly brought back memories of when we made our own risograph works together! Back then, the printer we had was extremely moody—like, “Oops, jammed again for no reason” moody. So production became a strategic dance of working with the chaos, not against it.
Even with a newer machine, I’m sure it’s still a wild ride. That’s why I was honestly blown away by all the artists and their devotion. There’s so much patience and planning hidden inside those vibrant prints... and that dedication really hit me in the heart.
I came home totally recharged, thinking I want to make stuff again. RISO stuff. Weird stuff. Colorful, stubborn, glitchy stuff!!!
By the way, Risograph was introduced by a Japanese company called Riso Kagaku. Everyone just calls it “RISO,” but did you know the word riso (理想) actually means “ideal”?
Funny thing is... it’s a printing method that’s not exactly ideal most of the time. But that’s what makes it beautiful, right?