Rob Swainston

Rob Swainston is an Associate Professor of Printmaking at Purchase College's School of Art+Design and co-founder and Master Printer for collaborative fine art printshop Prints of Darkness. Born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in 1970, he currently lives and works in New York City. He served as the Ludwig Foundation Professor for Printmaking at Weissensee Kunsthochschule Berlin during 2020-21 and has previously taught at Bard College, Columbia University, and New Jersey City University.

Swainston earned his BA from Hampshire College and MFA from Columbia University. His academic background uniquely bridges Political Science and Fine Art, informing his interdisciplinary approach to artistic practice.

Swainston's research interests center on the intersection of historical print processes with contemporary technologies, exploring how printmaking functions as a medium for social movements. His work spans printmaking, painting, sculpture, and installation, with a particular focus on woodcut techniques. He investigates contemporary social and political issues including political polarization, environmental crises, migration, and pandemic responses through the lens of historical printmaking traditions. His collaborative projects with Zorawar Sidhu examine how historical imagery can provide context for understanding current events.

Swainston's work has been featured in significant exhibitions at Petzel Gallery (2022, 2025), Hall Art Foundation (2024), Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (2024), and numerous other prestigious venues. His collaborative projects with Sidhu have entered major collections including MoMA, National Gallery D.C., MFA Houston, and Staateliche Museen zu Berlin.

• Skowhegan Residency
• Marie Walsh Sharpe Residency
• Fine Arts Work Center Residency

Swainston maintains an active studio practice while teaching at Purchase College. His collaborative work with Zorawar Sidhu through Prints of Darkness represents a significant contribution to contemporary printmaking, merging historical techniques with urgent contemporary subject matter. Their recent projects like Flash Point (2025) and Doomscrolling (2020-2022) demonstrate how printmaking continues to serve as a vital medium for social commentary and political engagement.