David Barthold’s journey as a printmaker began at age 13, took him through the legendary studios of Paris, and eventually led to a hiatus that ended in a burst of lino-cut street art during the pandemic.
In this episode, we explore the life and work of a native New Yorker who refuses to stay in one lane. We dig into:
• The Early Start: Learning under Ruth Leaf as a teenager and honing his craft at Oberlin and in France.
• Printmaking as Protest: How the pandemic pushed David out of the studio and onto the streets of Park Slope, using wheat-pasted portraits of figures like RBG and George Floyd to engage his community.
• The Technical Return: David’s transition from painting back to the "grease and gears" of the print studio, and why he finds spontaneity in such a technical medium.
• Building the Ecosystem: The vital role of community, shared spaces, and the mentors who keep the print world spinning.
David’s work is a masterclass in how a centuries-old medium can strike at the heart of contemporary culture.
Follow David’s street art and studio updates on Instagram: @DavidFBarthold