“Pirate Printers” Transfer New Urban Designs on Clothing Using Manhole Covers

pirate printers urban printmaking

Guerilla printing collective Raubdruckerin (“Pirate Printers”) has taken their urban printing technique on the road, embarking on a two-month tour around Europe. Based in Berlin, the group keeps an eye out for geometric patterns on city streets—printing t-shirts and tote bags with eco-friendly ink and a paint roller.

Their work reminds us of the graphic beauty that pervades our urban landscape, something that is often overlooked. Manhole cover designs and other street graphics transform into fashion under their clever watch. The group was recently in Scotland, leading an urban printing workshop as part of the Nuart Aberdeen festival. There they helped participants learn techniques for printing their own street inspired graphics.

With work from Berlin, Lisbon, Athens, and Amsterdam already available in their online shop, we're curious to see the collection from their latest voyage. The results will soon be revealed in Berlin at an exhibition in May 2017.

pirate printers urban printmaking

pirate printers manhole cover designs

pirate printers manhole cover designs

pirate printers urban printmaking

pirate printers urban printmaking

pirate printers urban printmaking

pirate printers urban printing

pirate printers manhole cover designs

Raubdruckerin: Website | Facebook | InstagramYouTube
h/t: [Colossal]

All images via Raubdruckerin.

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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