We have choice in our mindset, and American printer, papermaker and book artist Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. knows it. In Always Choose Happy, the legendary artist’s newest edition with 20x200, he lays it out as only he can: boldly, succinctly, triumphantly. Each 12.5” x 19” print is utterly unique in detail and is hand-pulled by Kennedy at his letterpress studio in Detroit, Michigan in multiple punchy colorways—the one you get will be a surprise, as they're all singular stunners with color combinations that differ because of Kennedy's individuated process.
Kennedy's new critically acclaimed book, Citizen Printer (Letterform Archive Books, 2024) features Always Choose Happy—and the piece is currently on display in San Francisco, CA at the Letterform Archive’s exhibition in support of the title (catch it before it’s gone if you’re in the Bay Area–it runs through January 2025!).
As beautifully stated by the Letterform Archive, Kennedy “is extremely outspoken about the impact of white supremacy and racism. These themes are reflected in Kennedy’s work and encompass the evolving trajectory of Black liberation in the United States. From growing up in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Era, to the rise of Black Nationalism in the 1970s, to the present Post-Civil Rights era, Kennedy has seen how these movements shaped Black identity in the United States and has drawn from this as inspiration.”
“I know that it is easier to live in a group of happy people than any other group. So, I encourage you to always choose happy”, Kennedy states. This beautiful piece is a shining reminder to do so.
