Carol Wax - prints and biography

Carol Wax (b. 1951) is an American printmaker, painter, and author best known for her mastery of mezzotint, a centuries-old technique she has both preserved and redefined for contemporary audiences. Honored with the 1994 Louise Nevelson Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Wax has been recognized as a leading figure in the revival and innovation of this demanding medium.

Wax first gained widespread acclaim with her groundbreaking book The Mezzotint: History and Technique, published by Abrams in 1990. The volume has since become the definitive reference on the process, blending historical insight with technical guidance, and remains an essential resource for artists and scholars alike. Beyond her writing, Wax has dedicated herself to refining mezzotint’s potential, developing new tools and techniques while expanding its expressive possibilities.

Her work is notable for its balance of virtuoso craftsmanship and conceptual depth. Often drawing inspiration from everyday objects, Wax transforms familiar forms—lamps, fans, typewriters—into luminous compositions that meditate on light, shadow, and the passage of time. In her hands, mezzotint becomes more than a method of reproduction; it is a vehicle for rediscovering the poetry of the ordinary.

Wax’s reputation has earned her a place in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the National Museum of American Art at the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and Museo Instituto Artes Graficas in Mexico, among many others. Her prints are also represented in distinguished corporate and private collections across the United States and abroad.

In addition to her studio practice, Wax has taught extensively, lecturing at universities, art schools, and workshops nationwide. She has served as both an advocate for printmaking traditions and a mentor to younger artists exploring its potential. By pushing the boundaries of mezzotint while preserving its essence, she has secured her place as one of the foremost printmakers of her generation.

Through innovation, scholarship, and artistry, Carol Wax has transformed an historical technique into a living, evolving art form, ensuring its relevance for the future.