Exhibition open from January - April 2026
“This body of work is the result of years spent carving, printing, experimenting, and growing—both as an artist and as a person. First exhibited at St. Cloud State University in November of 2025, where I earned my BFA in printmaking, this show marked a full-circle moment for me: a return to where it all began, and a powerful reminder of how far I’ve come.
The work is rooted in the craft of letterpress printing—made entirely by hand using 100-year-old presses, hand-carved linoleum blocks, and wood type. My goal with this exhibition was to create a cohesive collection that reflects my personal beliefs, my commitment to community, and my love for this gritty, analog process. Each piece was printed one at a time, with intention, imperfection, and heart.
This show features a wall of inspirational posters, a series of new contemplative prints that highlight my linoleum carving skills (including reduction prints and black linework), and a display of the tools and blocks I use—because part of my mission is to educate people about how this nearly lost craft still lives and breathes in my shop.
As the exhibition travels to Signal Return in Detroit, I’m honored to bring this work to a new creative community that also values craft, collaboration, and the printed word. My hope is that these pieces spark connection—between artist and viewer, past and present, idea and action. “
Mary C. Bruno (’97) is a proud graduate of St. Cloud State University, where her love of printmaking took root inside the Keihle Arts Center. Since earning her BFA, Mary has built a vibrant creative life as a letterpress artist, designer, and community instigator based in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
She runs Bruno Press, a small but mighty print shop filled with 100-year-old presses, hand-carved linoleum blocks, bold wood type, and even bolder ideas. What began as a tribute to her late father—who passed down the printing torch—has grown into a thriving hub of creativity, connection, and irreverent handmade art.
Mary lives off her creativity, and she stays busy doing what she loves: making art that means something, collaborating with other makers and entrepreneurs, teaching workshops, speaking at events, and bringing people together through ink, paper, and passion.
