What is chicago pulp?

CHICAGO PULP is a Handmade Papermaking Mill & Studio dedicated to offering people: Pulp, Paper, and Practice.

Proudly serving the creative community of Chicago and beyond.

Learn about our Offerings

  • Fiber is maserated, Beat to a Pulp using a Reina brand Hollander beater. Water is partially strained from the Fiber, so that the Fiber can be condensed into a plastic 5-gallon bucket.

  • We offer Handmade Paper Sheets ranging from Cotton, Abaca, Kozo, Flax, Sisal and more. Fiber and Dimensions vary by season.

  • Our Handmade Papermaking classes, workshops, and studio sessions offer: material, education, space, time and tools. Our offerings encourage you to practice, collaborate and actualize your ideas.

Our Story

In 2023, Dave King met Aidan Anne Frierson in a Handmade Papermaking class taught by Andrea Peterson at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. At that time, Aidan was working as a teaching assistant for the course. After the class ended, Dave needed Pulp for Papermaking. He asked Andrea if she could process pulp for him, and she referred him to Aidan for assistance. This marked the beginning of Aidan and Dave’s pulp processing partnership.

For months Aidan and Dave worked to maintain a supply of Pulp, leading Dave to suggest that they process Pulp for people outside of the institution. Aidan questioned: “how are we going to do this, we don't own a beater?” Dave replied: “we’re buying a beater!”