Meet Sarah Budeski | Letterpress Designer and Printer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Budeski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor in my success today is the community that surrounds me—both within and out of the studio. Letterpress is a craft deeply rooted in shared knowledge, history, and technique, and it’s through this spirit of collaboration that I’ve found not only mentorship but lasting friendships. I wouldn’t be where I am without the people who have taken the time to teach me, and support me in this career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a letterpress designer and printer currently working at Hatch Show Print, a historic letterpress studio that’s been in operation since 1879. It is currently based in downtown Nashville, TN. By day, I design show posters for iconic venues like the Ryman Auditorium. By night, I create fine art prints that explore the relationship between the written word and scenes of everyday life.

Letterpress is a medium grounded in centuries of tradition and craftsmanship. I’m incredibly grateful to the mentors who have passed this knowledge down to me, preserving a lineage that’s both technical and deeply human. There is something deeply human about picking up a hand-made print, acknowledging that every letter of every word was hand-set, inked, and printed by hand.

In a world increasingly driven by digital convenience, much of this tradition has been lost. That’s why I find purpose in this craft, and why I encourage others to support small-batch artists and makers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Nashville, it’s all about the makers and the music—so anywhere that brings people into connection with those creatives is the place to be. I’d start by taking visitors on a tour of Hatch Show Print, where I work, to give them a glimpse into the legacy of letterpress in Nashville. From there, we could head up to the Country Music Hall of Fame to dive deeper into the city’s roots.

While we’re downtown, I’d definitely stop by other creative spaces like the Arcade or Turnip Green Creative Reuse—both of which support and showcase local artists. At night, we could go dancing at Robert’s Western World or take a short trip out to Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge for some great, local music.

For food, some of my top stops are Bolton Hot Chicken in East Nashville, Mas Tacos or Village Pub and Beer Garden, to name a few. Grabbing coffee at Crema or some pastries at Dozen are a must stops as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to all my public school educators who recognized the artistic spark and drive in me and took the time to nurture it. These unsung heroes are often the first supporters outside the home, and their encouragement can have lasting impacts on a student’s path. I still carry one of these early moments with me through the influence of my first grade teacher, Mrs. Michaels, who encouraged me to illustrate a set of tools we were studying instead of writing a paper about them—an early moment of being seen for how I best express myself.

Instagram: @sjb_art

Linkedin: Sarah Budeski

Image Credits
ALL POSTERS c. Hatch Show Print