Extra Virgin Press

Extra Virgin Press has been printing “old school” in Miami since 2017. We have worked with a wide spectrum of organizations and institutions in the process of teaching letterpress printing.  For years we have been part of Perez Art Museum Miami’s Kids Jamm@PAMM, which is their annual fundraiser for youth programs. Other notable Miami organizations such as Miami Dade Public Library, Miami Book Fair, Bookleggers Library, Locust Projects LAB Program, Wolfsonian Museum’s Print Fest, have hosted live printing. Count on us to print for Fountainhead Artists Open each year, the day before Mothers Day. In and around those public printing events, we host visits demonstrating letterpress printing, book arts, and printmaking. As a retired Art teacher, any chance to share letterpress printing and its history to the next generation is welcomed.

Tom Virgin earned a MFA in Printmaking in 1994 at the University of Miami and started teaching in Title I Public Schools in 1995, “retired” in 2020, and has been printing since the early 1970's. Prior to founding Extra Virgin Press, Virgin worked in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and various after-school programs including MDC Cultural Affairs’ Art in Public Places (Path Project), Arts4Learning, MDCPS Summer Youth Employment and Training Programs (SYETP) in Miami Beach and Allapattah, and Hialeah. In 2004 Virgin started expanded his studies to add letterpress printing and book arts in many summer classes at artists residencies around the United States.  These days, Virgin’s teaching has been extended to teach  nice kids his age (55 and over) in PAMM’s Creative Aging Program.

Our mission has been enhanced by the recognition and support of The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, The Miami Foundation, Knight Foundation, Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Initiative, Oolite Arts, Locust Projects LAB Program, O, Miami Poetry Festival, the Wolfsonian Museum and the engagement & support of former students, artists, writers, and organizations across Miami.