Screen printing pioneer and former FESPA President Michel Caza passed away on 23 May 2026
FESPA has announced the death of Michel Caza, one of the federation’s founding figures, who passed away on 23 May 2026 at the age of 90.
Michel Caza was one of the eight founding board members who established FESPA in 1961 with the aim of promoting screen printing in Europe, encouraging cooperation between printers and suppliers, and supporting the exchange of technical knowledge.
Caza remained a Board Member of FESPA until his retirement in 2014. During his long association with the federation, he served as FESPA President from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2000 to 2002, overseeing a period of major transformation within the organisation.
Under his involvement, FESPA developed into a global network for speciality printers spanning nearly 40 countries, focused on knowledge sharing, education, and industry collaboration.
Daniel Sunderland said: “Michel was an irrepressible innovator, passionate about the craft and creativity of screen printing. He believed wholeheartedly in the power to advance print by encouraging printers to share their knowledge and ideas generously with one another. His unshakeable belief in the power of community, collaboration and education was one the guiding principles on which FESPA was founded, and he played a fundamental role in the growth of our organisation and events over seven decades. Those principles are still the foundations of FESPA more than 60 years on, as expressed in our strapline – Connect. Inspire. Support. The global FESPA ‘family’ will never forget his contribution.”
Caza first encountered screen printing while working a student job in Stockholm during the mid-1950s. The experience led to a lifelong career in printing, during which he collaborated with artists including Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Victor Vasarely.
He was also a print business owner and author of numerous technical and art-related books and articles. Throughout his career, he received more than 350 industry awards and conducted seminars, workshops, and presentations internationally.
During the emergence of digital inkjet printing technologies in the early 2000s, Caza advocated for integrating digital and screen printing technologies, supporting investment in digital production methods. This direction later contributed to the launch of the dedicated FESPA Digital event in 2006.
Caza also worked extensively on sustainability initiatives within the print sector. In 2001, he authored “Screen Printing: A Guide for a Clean Planet,” which later evolved into the first FESPA Planet Friendly Guide and became part of FESPA’s sustainability education initiatives.
He is additionally recognised within the screen printing industry for contributions including the commercialisation of UV curing inks and the development of super-fine halftone screen rulings.
In 2018, he documented his 55-year career in fine art screen printing through his book, “Michel Caza: The Chameleon of Contemporary Art.”
