Author: Tom Virgin

Miami is full of prints right now, at the University of Miami in a print portfolio in Art and Sciences, at Bakehouse in the print room (IS Projects recent portfolio), in Bookleggers Library, and out back in Studio 2, where Tom Virgin is printing books for Miami Book Fair, and other projects. Come and smell the ink. The 40th Anniversary Party is this Friday November 7th. Tickets are $100 at the door on Friday, but only $40 in advance. Over sixty artists are in residency and something for everyone. 

My relationship with Bakehouse Art Complex goes back to 1992 when I moved to Miami to attend University of Miami to study in the MFA Print Making program. One of my MFA colleagues, Alan Smith had a painting studio at Bakehouse then. Their ongoing programming that included programming with public schools and exhibition opportunities for students kept me coming around. Being here is truly an experience all day every day. 

The exhibition opening in the Audrey Love Gallery, ” PRESENT: Past, Present & Future, Bakehouse at Forty, curated by Krys Ortega, will be showing one of my prints from the Anderson Center at Tower View, where I spent seven July’s as an Artist in Residence. 

Dining Room, Tower View
Woodcut print
20 in x 16 in
2018

Bookleggers Library is a close neighbor to me at Bakehouse. I have printed for them on a few occasions already. Coming up on October 11 the entire back yard outside of the main building will be celebrating kids, artists and books in combination. I have attended these events and am happy to be included into the event this year. If you have kids and you love books, this is the event for you. Free Books! Free prints!

https://www.bookleggerslibrary.com/adventure-leggers-2025

Moving is a job, but new neighbors and friends that follow you around appreciate the new digs. I see most everyone that still lives in the neighborhood one way or the other. Junior printers, mentors, collaborators, and upcoming events will keep me busy for a while. 

About the same time that I moved from Little Haiti, Amanda Keeley interviewed me as part of her Book Arts Talks at Books & Books in Coral Gables. Since I spent quite a bit of time in school, or in artists residencies, Amanda and several of my friends were brought up to date on my practice in book arts. Other friends including my junior printer in front of the studio, are ready to print soon. 

The neighbor that I miss the most is Amanda Keeley, of Exile Projects. She has taught me so much about working with other people and printers. The Queen of the Miami Zine Fair brought this printer to hang out with friends, Zinesters and former students in the Design District. Lucky for me, we are still close and her partner in (Zine) crime, Katelyn Kopenhaver, is at Bakehouse with me.

Now in its 15th year in 2025, Locust Projects invited me to speak with their high school students as they created their installation for the 2025 edition of Locust Art Builders (LAB). For most of those fifteen years I had some of my students participating in that program (from Beach High and Hialeah High). Watching them create the installation over a few visits, and seeing those students during their opening is always uplifting. We overlapped in that time when I participated in their 2025 Spring Fling: Space Oddity Fund Raiser and Auction.

My most recent artists book with Campbell McGrath was on display with art with many of Miami’s makers.

Some of those Locust Builders came to visit me in the studio as well. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLdgLMGERAQ

Having spent eight years at the Emerson Dorsch Building in Little Haiti was a challenge for this guy who likes to stay put in the neighborhoods he loves. Still… progress is progress. My studio at Bakehouse Art Complex is beginning to come together. My official portrait by the fabulous Pedro Wazzan is surreal and settling at the same time.