Matt from Brunswick Print Lab

Tell us about yourself.
My name’s Matt - welcome to Brunswick Print Lab.

How did Brunswick Print Lab come to be?
It didn’t exist before this space! I’d just finished a photography degree at RMIT and fallen in love with printing. I asked one of my lecturers how I could get a job in a print lab, and he basically said, “You can’t. Too niche, too small, no one hires.” So I decided to open one myself.

That’s bold. What made you take the leap?
I just thought, why not? I’d always loved the technical side of photography - printing especially. I had some savings, found this space through Nightingale, and jumped in. It’s the first print lab I’ve ever worked in… and it’s mine.

So, what exactly do you do here?
Fine art printing and art reproduction. That means I print high-quality works for artists and photographers, and I also photograph original artworks so they can be reproduced as editions. That part’s super technical,  there are international standards to meet, and colour calibration is everything. Even the colour of the lab walls matters.

How do people find you?
Mostly word of mouth and Instagram. And lots of people walk past on the Upfield Bike Path and drop in. That’s the beauty of being here, great foot traffic and heaps of creative people around. The Nightingale community has been really supportive too. We see a lot of locals in here.

Was there something specific about Nightingale that appealed to you?
Definitely. I’ve known about Nightingale since the early Brunswick projects. I’ve always loved the ethos. When I saw there were commercial spaces in Wurru wurru biik, I got in early and bought off the plan. Bit of a leap, but I’m really glad I did it.

You did the fit-out yourself?
Yep -  it’s minimal, mostly open space, which is what I need. I repurposed an old textiles table as my print bench, built some custom cupboards, and fitted in the printers and the camera stand. Simple, but it works.

Who are your customers?
It’s a real mix, from emerging local artists to more established names. I recently photographed a painting by Miranda Skoczek for a store fit-out, and I’ve been working with a 78-year-old artist named Thea on her first solo show. She makes these beautiful, textured pieces, and we’ve been photographing, enlarging, and printing them together. That kind of work is incredibly fulfilling.

Then there are the wildcard projects, like a local who just printed 900 images of his dog, Ernesto, peeing on things. That exhibition’s going up soon in the space on the corner.

What’s surprised you most about running a print lab?
How much teaching I get to do. People often come in expecting it to be like Officeworks, and they’re blown away by what’s actually possible when printing is done properly. Once they understand the options, large-format prints, reproducing paintings, then professional framing, they get excited. It becomes a process of discovery, and I love helping people bring their vision to life.

What draws people to Brunswick Print Lab?
No appointments needed. You don’t need to know anything about printing. Just bring your work, and we’ll figure it out together. And everything we use, from gear to materials, is gallery quality. That’s what we do.

And finally, your go-to local lunch spot?
A1 Bakery. Hands down.

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