Our
Story
Mission
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Obee Editions was founded in 2016 by Tamarind Master Printer, Perry Obee. They are currently located near Asheville in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
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Building on the rich cultural heritage of Western North Carolina, Obee Editions brings a new dimension to the region's vibrant arts community. While individual artists have long experimented with printmaking in private studios, Obee Edition's professional collaborative printer makes printmaking accessible to artists of all levels and mediums.
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Our mission is to provide artists of all levels access to the expertise of a professional printer. We foster creative innovation and artistic growth by providing a supportive, collaborative environment where artists can experiment, take risks, and push the boundaries of their work. We believe that printmaking has the power to transform and elevate an artist's vision, and we're committed to making this medium accessible to a diverse range of artists.
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In our studio, artists work one-on-one with a professional collaborative printer, similar to how musicians collaborate with a producer. This partnership allows artists to focus on their creative vision while leveraging the printer's technical expertise. By bridging the gap between artistic concept and technical execution, Obee Editions empowers artists to realize their full creative potential.
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Through select publishing projects, Obee Editions partners with renowned artists from around the world. These collaborations enhance Obee Editions' ability to act as a hub for innovative printmaking. Our visiting artists often share their insights and expertise through public lectures and events.
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We're honored to be a part of this community's ongoing creative evolution, and we look forward to collaborating with artists who share our passion for innovation and artistic growth. Click here to start collaborating.
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Join the Obee Editions mailing list for print releases, studio news, and artist collaborations.
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​​What is collaborative printmaking?
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Collaborative printmaking is the process of an artist working closely with an experienced master printer to produce original works in printmaking.
Technical Expertise
Many artists, whether seasoned in printmaking or brand new to the medium, dream of creating fine art prints but lack either the technical expertise or the specialized facilities required. Our professional master printer brings decades of experience and a deep knowledge of printmaking techniques such as lithography, monotype, etching, and relief printing. Combined with our fully equipped studio, this expertise creates opportunities for exploration in printmaking that would otherwise be out of reach.
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Even for artists who already have a background in printmaking or maintain a home studio, working with a master printer removes the burden of technical challenges. By taking charge of the complex printing process, the printer allows the artist to focus entirely on their creative vision. With professional facilities and a lifetime dedicated to producing prints of all scales and formats, our studio helps artists achieve the highest level of craftsmanship and artistic expression in fine print techniques.
Teamwork
The greatest value of collaborative printmaking goes far beyond technical knowledge or access to equipment. When artist and printer work together, a powerful creative synergy emerges. Two minds in dialogue spark fresh ideas and push the artwork to its fullest potential, often leading to results neither could achieve alone.
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This process is less like a transaction and more like a dance, a shared rhythm where inspiration flows back and forth. Over time, this collaboration can evolve into a profound artistic relationship, as seen in the legendary partnerships between Picasso and Fernand Mourlot, Robert Rauschenberg and Robert Blackburn, or Frank Stella and Ken Tyler.
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In this spirit, our studio fosters long-term, creative collaborations that open new directions for artists, enriching both their practice and the field of printmaking itself.
Perry Obee, Master Printer
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Perry Obee has been dedicated to printmaking and the graphic arts since 2004, when he first discovered the medium at Ohio Wesleyan University. He earned his BFA in Painting and Printmaking in 2006 and later completed an MFA in Painting at Connecticut State University in 2009. Alongside his own artistic practice, Perry has taught painting, drawing, printmaking, and art history at institutions including the University of North Carolina–Asheville, University of Connecticut, Western Carolina University, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In 2013, he was awarded a painting residency at the Vermont Studio Center, further deepening his engagement with the arts.
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Training & Collaborative Experience
While in graduate school, Perry began working with renowned Master Printer James Reed at Milestone Graphics in New Haven, Connecticut. Over the course of nine years, he gained invaluable experience in fine art printmaking, developing technical mastery across print media and a deep understanding of the collaborative relationship between printer and artist. Perry also learned the business of running a professional print studio—skills that continue to inform his own practice today.
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Founding Obee Editions​
In 2015, Perry relocated to Asheville, North Carolina, where he set up a small lithography workshop. By 2016, he had officially founded Obee Editions, a professional collaborative printmaking studio in Marshall, NC, dedicated to helping artists realize their creative visions through lithography and other fine print techniques.
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Tamarind Master Printer Certification
In 2018, Perry was accepted into the prestigious Tamarind Institute of Lithography in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He earned his Tamarind Master Printer certification in 2020, receiving the highest level of training in collaborative lithography and fine art printmaking. At Tamarind, Perry collaborated with internationally recognized artists including Mark Dion, Laylah Ali, Noel W. Anderson, Inka Bell, and Jose Antonio Suárez Londoño, among many others. These collaborations expanded his expertise and positioned him at the forefront of the field.
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Teaching & Return to North Carolina
Following his Tamarind training, Perry served as a Visiting Lecturer in Printmaking at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he led both undergraduate and graduate programs during a period of departmental transition. In 2022, he returned to the Asheville area with his wife, Kimberly Obee, a letterpress printer and book artist (Wishing Flower Press), and together they established their studios in Black Mountain, NC.
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Today
Now operating Obee Editions, Perry continues to collaborate with artists across disciplines, bringing their ideas to life through high-quality fine art printmaking. His expertise in lithography and dedication to collaboration have made him a trusted partner for artists seeking to expand their practice through prints.
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Perry and Kimberly’s home and studio are also the heart of their family life. They welcomed their first daughter in 2021 and their second daughter in 2025—both of whom inspire their work as creative entrepreneurs and fuel their passion for building a vibrant, family-centered printmaking studio.