Martha Chiplis

Martha Chiplis serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor within the Visual Communication Design department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Her teaching portfolio encompasses foundational courses such as Introduction to Visual Communication, Beginning Typography, and specialized studio courses like Letterpress Broadside Editions, where she integrates historical print techniques with contemporary design practice.

Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from SAIC in 1987 and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1991. These degrees underpin her expertise in visual arts and design.

Chiplis's creative and scholarly interests revolve around typography, letterpress printing, and book arts, with a strong emphasis on socially engaged art. Her exhibition "Rising Together" showcased zines and artists' books addressing social conscience, and her handbook "For the Love of Letterpress" has become a key resource for educators. She investigates how visual form communicates meaning in complex cultural contexts.

Her contributions have been recognized with the American Graphic Design Awards and the Tampa Book Arts Studio Letterpress Excellence Award. Additionally, her work resides in esteemed collections including the British Library, Library of Congress, and Stanford University.