About Us
Betterpress is the first letterpress studio in Rome: an independent art workshop and exhibition space, founded by Francesca Colonia and Giulia Nicolai.
Since 2014
Since 2014, in our historic location, we have restored hand presses and movable type, bringing the typographic tradition back to life and reinterpreting it through contemporary practice, teaching, and international collaborations.
Today Betterpress expands with Betterpress Studio, a new space devoted to visual culture, hosting exhibitions, talks, and collaborations among artists, graphic and type designers, and other key figures of contemporary visual culture.
An open dialogue
We collaborate with Fine Arts Academies, Universities and cultural institutions to bring manual typography into educational programmes. We host international artists and teachers who wish to expand their visual language through relief printing.
The studio is a space for shared research, where technique meets art and graphic design is tested against the fertile constraints of physical form.
Francesca Colonia
born in Rome, 4 June 1983
Graduated in Decoration from the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, Francesca deepened her training in engraving and alternative photographic printing processes in Budapest, Berlin and Florence, where she met Amos Jr. Kennedy and discovered her passion for letterpress.
Co-founder of Betterpress, she directs its artistic vision and educational programmes, exploring the relationship between typographic tradition and contemporary practice. Alongside her graphic work, Francesca creates jewellery, translating her visual research into tangible forms and materials.
Lecturer in Techniques and Technologies of Graphics at RUFA.
Giulia Nicolai
born in Rome, 18 February 1982
Graduated in Classical Philology from the University of 'La Sapienza' in Rome, Giulia combines the study of ancient languages and literature with a passion for theatre, graduating in acting and dubbing.
She collaborated on the Theatron project, translating and staging ancient drama, deepening her research on language and signs.
Co-founder of Betterpress, she transforms her knowledge of the history of texts and language into contemporary printing and visual projects. Lecturer in Theatre History.
Craft
Every print comes from the hands. No algorithm, no click: just paper, ink and pressure.
Research
We experiment with type size, leading and colour in the spirit of the great typographers of the past.
Care
Every character cleaned and preserved. Every press maintained. A heritage passed down.
Discover our workshops
The best way to understand letterpress is to do it with your own hands. We look forward to welcoming you to the studio.