Coty West reflects on Holly Brigham’s Fidelia Bridges’ Summer in Bethlehem, PA
"One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration was incorporating hand-drawn elements into the printmaking process. It was incredibly fulfilling to help bring Holly’s vision to life in a way that honors her talent for drawing and storytelling through nature. I feel as if I helped lay a foundation of color pulled straight from nature, and then Holly brought the piece to life.”
Read MoreArtTalk: Curlee Raven Holton with the Phillips' Mill Community Association
January 21, 2026: Laura Womack and Curlee Raven Holton discuss Holton’s career as a painter and printmaker, with a particular focus on printmaking as a medium of politics. They discuss how his work uses symbolism and provocative figurative representations to engage viewers in conversations about race, poverty, class, and isolation.
Read MoreArtist Conversation with Curlee Raven Holton and Dr. Ashley Jordan with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP)
June 27, 2025
Artist Curlee Raven Holton and Dr. Ashley Jordan (CEO, African American Museum in Philadelphia) explored the intersection of art, history, and social justice. Holton served as HSP's 2025 Artist in Residence with his new artist book, The Sublime Narrative of Self Emancipation. This dialogue highlighted the enduring legacy of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and Holton’s creative response to archival stories of resistance, resilience, and liberation that continue to shape our understanding of freedom and community today.
Read MoreAt Raven Editions, we have worked with Mel Edwards many times over the years, both in-studio and offsite. Our latest collaboration with the artist, in February 2023, included experiments with spray paint and found objects including barbed wire, locks, metal chains, and more.
"Watching his process is very prolific, his use of light stands out to me the most. He uses this light technique to highlight the metal objects and create dramatic imagery. He turned the white pieces of paper into a true Mel Edwards original. There is a sense of play in his process that is only overshadowed by the deep meaning of his work. It is very inspiring, and an honor to assist him during his visits our studio.”
Read MoreCoty West, Raven’s assistant printmaker and studio manager, recounts working on one of Driskell’s last projects with our studio.
“One of my favorite editions is David C. Driskell’s Masks I Series, which I worked on back in 2009. The series features a restored woodcut, which was part of an archived collection of plates made by Driskell in the 1970s, that had never been editioned before. When the woodblock arrived at the studio, it was covered in old ink, evidence of Driskell’s earlier attempts to print the work.”
Read MoreThis compelling first installment of our latest series, Conversations with Collectors, brings together collectors Eric Key, Lynn Sylvester, and Christina Waddler in conversation with Raven Editions founder Curlee Raven Holton about their collecting journeys and practices over the years. This conversation explores the emotional draws of collecting, efforts to engage in impactful art endeavors with a focus on supporting African American creativity, and the role of collectors in building a culture of art-making and collecting.
Read MoreFrom the Collectors' Preview Reception of A COLLABORATION OF CREATIVITY: PRINT WORK BY DAVID C. DRISKELL.
Dr. Curlee Holton who curated this show talks to us about his printmaking collaboration with David Driskell. The exhibition showcases the artistic genius of Driskell, the printmaking mastery of Holton, and the power of collaboration.
Read MoreIn Below The Surface: A History in Printmaking, Curlee Raven Holton introduces the various traditional and contemporary printmaking processes that have allowed artists the freedom and agency to broaden their visual language and explore collaboration in experimental ways.
Read MoreJoin us in celebrating the life of someone who means so much to Raven Editions by exploring our online gallery and collecting his work. David C. Driskell made our lives richer by promoting and understanding the unwritten history of African Americans. He was revolutionary in advancing the stature and awareness of African American art and its place within the canon of American art.
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