The printmaking tradition in KwaZulu–Natal spans decades and continues to be a mode of exploration in the practices of young contemporary artists.
The legacy of the ELC Craft Centre at Rorke’s Drift is partly based on printmaking. The range of processes and styles taught at the centre produced some of Southern Africa’s most influential artists including Sam Nhlengethwa, Pat Mautloa, John Muafangejo, Kay Hassan, Paul Sibisi, Lionel Davis, Thami Jali and Azaria Mbatha. Rorke’s Drift was a centre of tertiary artistic education for many black artists at a time when this was largely closed to black students. Following the closure of the fine art school at Rorke’s Drift in 1982 the BAT Centre in Durban continued the printmaking tradition from the early 1990’s, training the printmakers of today.