Dead Matter Press is run by Liz McGrane and Tage Johnson Based in Portland, OR

Dead Matter Press started in 2015 as Liz’s senior thesis project. Creating a mobile printing press housed in a travel trailer so Dead Matter could travel, live print, and share our love of printing at events up and down the west coast.

What does Dead Matter mean?

Dead Matter is a letterpress term for type that have been set and used for printing and is no longer needed. When lead type changes from live matter into dead matter it is ready to be redistributed back into the type cabinet. Our take on this phrase is that, once a substrate has been used for its intended purpose, it can be reworked and reused to create something new.

Who are we?

Liz McGrane is from Agoura Hills, CA and Tage Johnson is from Spanish Fork, UT. We met in the print shop at PNCA while studying for our BFAs in printmaking. Running the print club together and hosting printing events, it became clear that we wanted to keep doing community printing events after graduating.

PRINT EXCHANGES

In 2016 we started hosting print exchanges in hopes to connect with other printmakers, to share art, and technique amongst our community. the exchanges have grown into an international project. As of 2025 we have hosted 20 print exchanges featuring 400+ prints from printers from all around the world.

What we do Now?

Dead Matter Press has moved to a stationary studio in our home in North Portland. Aside from hosting our print exchanges We print commissioned work and personal artwork. Focusing on screen printing, letterpress, and woodblock printing Techniques. Along with traditional printing we offer digital printing, laser cutting/engraving, and vinyl work.