Different artists working with the same printer is the inspiration for the latest exhibition at Youngstown State University’s Judith Rae Solomon Gallery.

Curated by Amy Copeland “RISO: Artworks by YSU Department of Art Faculty & Staff” showcases work by 13 YSU employees who have embraced the Risograph printer — a hybrid medium that bridges digital production and traditional printmaking. Known for its vibrant inks, layered color process and distinctive imperfections, the Risograph invites artists to work through experimentation, limitation and chance.

Because the Risograph prints one color at a time using individual drums, artists must carefully separate their images and anticipate how inks will interact as they overlap. Fluorescent pinks, bright yellows, and deep blues combine to produce surprising new hues and dynamic contrasts, transforming limited palettes into vibrant compositions. Rather than correcting the medium’s characteristic quirks — occasional misregistration, subtle ink variation — many of the artists in this exhibition embrace them, allowing the mechanical process to generate unexpected visual relationships and textures.

The works on display reveal a wide range of conceptual and material approaches. Some artists explore typography, graphic systems and historical references through carefully constructed color separations, while others experiment with collage, drawing or scanning objects directly on the machine’s scanner bed. Several works extend beyond the printed page, incorporating animation, installation, plexiglass structures or woven printed strips.

Participating artists are: Amy Copeland, Ashley Johnston, Alyssa Keil, Amanda Spinosa, Chauncey Hay, Claudia Berlinski, Dana Sperry, Dragana Crnjak, Joy Christiansen Erb, Joe D’Uva, Michelle Nelson, Sebastian Giraldo and Zachary Clifford.

“RISO: Artworks by YSU Department of Art Faculty & Staff” will be on display through April 10 at the gallery, located in Bliss Hall. A reception is planned at 4:30 p.m. today. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and admission is free.