Architectural Image-Making in 1980s New York is a publication accompanying the three-part exhibition series which documents the work produced by and exhibited at John Nichols Printmakers & Publishers (JNP&P) at 83 Grand Street in SoHo between 1978–94. Recounting the recent history of cultural activity associated with the operation at 83 Grand Street foregrounds the site of production as an important social space where the disciplinary boundaries of art, architecture, and design begin to dissolve within the printmakers’ studio. The JNP&P Collection includes both finished pieces and process artifacts which illustrate the creative and collaborative process that occurred while crafting images. Through this publication the contents of the exhibition series—including work by Laurie Anderson, John Baldissari, Joseph Beuys, Roberto Burle Marx, Liz Diller, Peter Eisenman, Michael Graves, Frank Gehry, Steven Holl, Thom Mayne/Morphosis, Charles Moore, RUR, Terrence Riley, Martha Schwartz, Venturi Scott Brown, and others—is made available to a wider audience and for future reference. The publication provides both historic insight into specific architectural and artistic practices along with representational precedents that may inform the development of contemporary practitioners.

Clara Syme is an architect based in New York where she, along with Owen Nichols, codirects a83 and the design firm Chibbernoonie. At a83 she curates exhibitions, organizes events and educational workshops, contributes to the production fine-art print editions, and is director of archival material. Chibbernoonie prioritizes communication through images specializing in hybrid drawings, printmaking, and modeling. Chibbernoonie has developed a portfolio of built work while maintaining a speculative image-based practice. Chibbernoonie’s work has been published in Pidgin, ARQ, Harvard Design Magazine, Inscriptions edited by K. Michael Hays and Andrew Holder (Harvard University Press, 2022) and Dwell. Syme received a bachelor of architectural studies at from University of Waterloo and an MArch degree from Princeton University. She teaches at The Cooper Union.

Owen Nichols is an architect based in New York where he, along with Clara Syme, codirects a83 and the design firm Chibbernoonie. At a83 he curates exhibitions, organizes events and educational workshops, and is director of printmaking. While at a83 he has led the production of fine-art print editions for architects including RUR, Jesse LeCavalier, Common Accounts, Galo Canizares, Young & Ayata, Young-Projects, and Sean Canty. Chibbernoonie prioritizes communication through images specializing in hybrid drawings, printmaking, and modeling. Chibbernoonie has developed a portfolio of built work while maintaining a speculative image-based practice. Chibbernoonie’s work has been published in Pidgin, ARQ, Harvard Design Magazine, Inscriptions edited by K. Michael Hays and Andrew Holder (Harvard University Press, 2022), and Dwell. Nichols received his MArch degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and teaches at Parsons School of Design and The Cooper Union.

a83 is a nonprofit organization with a three-part mission to exhibit, publish, and promote experimental projects in architecture, art, and design. Building from the previous operation, John Nichols Printmakers & Publishers (1978–94), the organization continues to operate at the original location in SoHo as a printmaking studio, project-space, and growing archive. The 83 Grand Street location is used to produce exhibitions and installations, host workshops, and broadcast work to new audiences.