︎
I work with prints and drawings (primarily information graphics) as an integral part of a socially-engaged art practice. I use printmaking as a method for visualising concepts, and as a tool for prompting stories and discussion.

I’m a founding member of Big Fag Press, an artist-run offset lithographic printing collective in Sydney, since 2004.

In 2018, Deakin University Art Gallery presented Diagrammatic: Works by Lucas Ihlein and Collaborators, an exhibition which featured "editioned prints and intervention/performance-related work highlighting Ihlein’s promotional flair, appreciation for the economies of print and commitment to grassroots change".


Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, The Yeomans Project, 2011-14.

As part of a wide-ranging investigation into the cultural and agricultural legacy of P.A. Yeomans, a series of 7 offset lithographic prints were published by Big Fag Press. The Yeomans Project print series won the 2012 Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award.

Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, installation view at Art Gallery of NSW exhibition, The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, Lucas with proof of "Nevallan Aerial View", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, detail of "Nevallan Aerial View", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, "Lucas Ihlein interviewed by Ian Milliss", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, "Ian Milliss interviewed by Lucas Ihlein", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, "Contour Text Map", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, detail of "Contour Text Map", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, "New Chisel Plow Shank", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, "A Social Ecology Perspective on the Work of P.A. Yeomans", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, 2011-13 Lucas Ihlein and Ian Milliss, "Keyline Design on Taranaki Farm", part of The Yeomans Project, limited edition offset lithographs published by Big Fag Press, with screenprint overlay thanks to Shaun Poustie, Rhonda Murray and Alberta Muller, 2011-18


Lucas Ihlein, Environmental Audit, 2010

As part of a project at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, a series of 9 offset lithographic prints were published by Big Fag Press:

Lucas Ihlein, "The Ins and Outs of an Artwork on Show in the Museum", limited edition offset lithograph published by Big Fag Press, part of Environmental Audit, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, "Artist as Family Lifestyle Audit", limited edition offset lithograph published by Big Fag Press, Environmental Audit, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, Flora and Amy's Photocopy Audit", limited edition offset lithograph published by Big Fag Press, Environmental Audit, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, "Future Farmers Present the Sunshine Still - but at What Cost?", limited edition offset lithograph published by Big Fag Press, Environmental Audit, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein with Louise Anderson, "MCA Third Floor Power and Lighting Audit", limited edition offset lithograph published by Big Fag Press, Environmental Audit, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein with Louise Anderson, "MCA Third Floor Power and Lighting Audit Wattage Calculations", limited edition offset lithograph published by Big Fag Press, Environmental Audit, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, "What is an Audit?", limited edition offset lithograph published by Big Fag Press, part of Environmental Audit, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, "Makeshift (Tessa Zettel and Karl Khoe) do an Auto-Audit", limited edition offset lithograph published by Big Fag Press, Environmental Audit, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, "Lucas Ihlein and Pat Armstrong printing the Environmental Audit series at the Big Fag Press, Sydney, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, installation of printworks produced for Environmental Audit, MADA Gallery, Monash University, Melbourne, 2012. Lucas Ihlein, "Printing in the Field", diagram showing relationship between printmaking and social engagement in projects such as Environmental Audit, 2010


Other prints published by Big Fag Press:


Lucas Ihlein, The Feral Amongst Us, scratch foam print commissioned by The Bundanon Trust for Siteworks 2015 Lucas Ihlein, Pleasure of the Copy, scratch foam print produced to commemorate workshop run by Dr Marcus Boon at Big Fag Press, September 2015. Lucas Ihlein, MAP, a hand-drawn map showing garbage on traffic island on North Terrace, Adelaide, 2006-7. MAP won the 2007 Marrickville Contemporary Art Prize, and was featured in the book From Here to There: A Curious Collection from the Hand Drawn Map Association, by Kris Harzinski, 2010. Diego Bonetto with Big Fag Press Crane Print, 2009 Detail of Big Fag Press logo embossing on gold certificate to accompany Crane Print, design by Mickie Quick, 2009. Lucas Ihlein and Claire Potter, Swallow, collaborative broadside, offset lithograph, 2010 Lucas Ihlein and Claire Potter, Swallow, collaborative broadside, 2010 Lucas Ihlein and Claire Potter, Swallow, collaborative broadside, 2010 Eve inspects the Big Fag Press Brochure/Poster, design by Mickie Quick, 2008 Lucas Ihlein, The Underground Radish, published to coincide with launch of special themed edition of Artlink Magazine, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, detail from The Underground Radish, published to coincide with launch of special themed edition of Artlink Magazine, 2010. Lucas Ihlein, The Sham, marker pen on drafting film over offset lithographic print, 2009 Lucas Ihlein, detail of The Sham, marker pen on drafting film over offset lithographic print, 2009 Louise sports a Bon Scott Blog Crotch Apron, screenprinted in 2008 and withdrawn from sale at request of the Scott family. Alyssa models a Bon Scott Blog Crotch Apron, screenprinted in 2008. Lucas Ihlein screenprinting Bon Scott Blog Crotch Aprons, 2008. Alex Stevenson with her design for the LP cover for What Lies Beneath, 2013.
lucasihlein.net