diff --git a/docs/examples/debyemodel.py b/docs/examples/debyemodel.py
index 1529d848..6e220c60 100644
--- a/docs/examples/debyemodel.py
+++ b/docs/examples/debyemodel.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 import numpy
 from gaussianrecipe import scipyOptimize
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import (
+from diffpy.srfit import (
     FitContribution,
     FitRecipe,
     FitResults,
diff --git a/docs/examples/debyemodelII.py b/docs/examples/debyemodelII.py
index c75d9cf7..97f50ca6 100644
--- a/docs/examples/debyemodelII.py
+++ b/docs/examples/debyemodelII.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 
 from debyemodel import makeRecipe, scipyOptimize
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import FitRecipe, FitResults
+from diffpy.srfit import FitRecipe, FitResults
 
 ######
 #  Example Code
diff --git a/docs/examples/gaussiangenerator.py b/docs/examples/gaussiangenerator.py
index b7d3e007..2fa41684 100644
--- a/docs/examples/gaussiangenerator.py
+++ b/docs/examples/gaussiangenerator.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
 from numpy import exp
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import (
+from diffpy.srfit import (
     FitContribution,
     FitRecipe,
     Profile,
diff --git a/docs/examples/gaussianrecipe.py b/docs/examples/gaussianrecipe.py
index 61f00384..039003ae 100644
--- a/docs/examples/gaussianrecipe.py
+++ b/docs/examples/gaussianrecipe.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import (
+from diffpy.srfit import (
     FitContribution,
     FitRecipe,
     FitResults,
diff --git a/docs/examples/interface.py b/docs/examples/interface.py
index 96466808..d8f90eb0 100644
--- a/docs/examples/interface.py
+++ b/docs/examples/interface.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import (
+from diffpy.srfit import (
     FitContribution,
     FitRecipe,
     FitResults,
diff --git a/docs/examples/simplerecipe.py b/docs/examples/simplerecipe.py
index 0ff981f4..2d705fb4 100644
--- a/docs/examples/simplerecipe.py
+++ b/docs/examples/simplerecipe.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import SimpleRecipe
+from diffpy.srfit import SimpleRecipe
 
 ######
 #  Example Code
diff --git a/docs/examples/threedoublepeaks.py b/docs/examples/threedoublepeaks.py
index 935aa715..a6de86a8 100644
--- a/docs/examples/threedoublepeaks.py
+++ b/docs/examples/threedoublepeaks.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 import numpy
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import (
+from diffpy.srfit import (
     FitContribution,
     FitRecipe,
     FitResults,
diff --git a/news/export-fitbase-api.rst b/news/export-fitbase-api.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a2a531c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/export-fitbase-api.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* The public ``fitbase`` classes can now be imported directly from
+  ``diffpy.srfit``, for example ``from diffpy.srfit import FitRecipe``.
+
+**Changed:**
+
+* Importing ``diffpy.srfit`` no longer imports ``matplotlib.pyplot`` or
+  changes the global matplotlib style. ``FitRecipe.plot_recipe`` still uses
+  the ``bg-style`` stylesheet, but only for the figures it creates.
+
+**Deprecated:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Removed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Security:**
+
+* <news item>
diff --git a/src/diffpy/srfit/__init__.py b/src/diffpy/srfit/__init__.py
index 7a70bbf2..7e4a3206 100644
--- a/src/diffpy/srfit/__init__.py
+++ b/src/diffpy/srfit/__init__.py
@@ -16,6 +16,32 @@
 ##############################################################################
 """Generalized code base for modeling problems."""
 
+__all__ = [
+    "Calculator",
+    "FitContribution",
+    "FitHook",
+    "FitRecipe",
+    "FitResults",
+    "PlotFitHook",
+    "Profile",
+    "ProfileGenerator",
+    "ProfileParser",
+    "SimpleRecipe",
+]
+
+from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import (
+    Calculator,
+    FitContribution,
+    FitHook,
+    FitRecipe,
+    FitResults,
+    PlotFitHook,
+    Profile,
+    ProfileGenerator,
+    ProfileParser,
+    SimpleRecipe,
+)
+
 # package version
 from diffpy.srfit.version import __version__  # noqa
 
diff --git a/src/diffpy/srfit/fitbase/fitrecipe.py b/src/diffpy/srfit/fitbase/fitrecipe.py
index cc6f6924..c23f8ca5 100644
--- a/src/diffpy/srfit/fitbase/fitrecipe.py
+++ b/src/diffpy/srfit/fitbase/fitrecipe.py
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from pathlib import Path
 
-import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-from bg_mpl_stylesheets.styles import all_styles
 from numpy import array, concatenate, dot, sqrt
 
 import diffpy.srfit.util.inpututils as utils
@@ -49,8 +47,6 @@
 from diffpy.srfit.util.tagmanager import TagManager
 from diffpy.utils._deprecator import build_deprecation_message, deprecated
 
-plt.style.use(all_styles["bg-style"])
-
 base = "diffpy.srfit.fitbase.FitRecipe"
 removal_version = "4.0.0"
 addcontrib_dep_msg = build_deprecation_message(
@@ -1695,107 +1691,115 @@ def plot_recipe(self, ax=None, return_fig=False, **kwargs):
                 "No contributions found in recipe. "
                 "Add contributions before plotting."
             )
+        import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+        from bg_mpl_stylesheets.styles import all_styles
+
         figures = []
         axes_list = []
         shared_axes = ax is not None and len(self._contributions) > 1
-        for name, contrib in self._contributions.items():
-            profile = contrib.profile
-            x = profile.x
-            yobs = profile.y
-            ycalc = profile.ycalc
-            show_fit = plot_params["show_fit"]
-            show_diff = plot_params["show_diff"]
-            if ycalc is None:
-                if show_fit or show_diff:
-                    print(
-                        f"Contribution '{name}' has no calculated values "
-                        "(ycalc is None). "
-                        "Only observed data will be plotted."
+        with plt.style.context(all_styles["bg-style"]):
+            for name, contrib in self._contributions.items():
+                profile = contrib.profile
+                x = profile.x
+                yobs = profile.y
+                ycalc = profile.ycalc
+                show_fit = plot_params["show_fit"]
+                show_diff = plot_params["show_diff"]
+                if ycalc is None:
+                    if show_fit or show_diff:
+                        print(
+                            f"Contribution '{name}' has no calculated values "
+                            "(ycalc is None). "
+                            "Only observed data will be plotted."
+                        )
+                    show_fit = False
+                    show_diff = False
+                else:
+                    diff = yobs - ycalc
+                    y_min = min(yobs.min(), ycalc.min())
+                    y_max = max(yobs.max(), ycalc.max())
+                    y_range = y_max - y_min
+                    base_offset = y_min - 0.1 * y_range
+                    offset = base_offset * plot_params["offset_scale"]
+                if ax is None:
+                    fig = plt.figure(figsize=plot_params["figsize"])
+                    current_ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+                else:
+                    current_ax = ax
+                    fig = current_ax.figure
+                if plot_params["show_observed"]:
+                    current_ax.plot(
+                        x,
+                        yobs,
+                        plot_params["data_style"],
+                        label=self._format_plot_label(
+                            plot_params["data_label"], name, shared_axes
+                        ),
+                        color=plot_params["data_color"],
+                        markersize=plot_params["markersize"],
+                        alpha=plot_params["alpha"],
                     )
-                show_fit = False
-                show_diff = False
-            else:
-                diff = yobs - ycalc
-                y_min = min(yobs.min(), ycalc.min())
-                y_max = max(yobs.max(), ycalc.max())
-                y_range = y_max - y_min
-                base_offset = y_min - 0.1 * y_range
-                offset = base_offset * plot_params["offset_scale"]
-            if ax is None:
-                fig = plt.figure(figsize=plot_params["figsize"])
-                current_ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
-            else:
-                current_ax = ax
-                fig = current_ax.figure
-            if plot_params["show_observed"]:
-                current_ax.plot(
-                    x,
-                    yobs,
-                    plot_params["data_style"],
-                    label=self._format_plot_label(
-                        plot_params["data_label"], name, shared_axes
-                    ),
-                    color=plot_params["data_color"],
-                    markersize=plot_params["markersize"],
-                    alpha=plot_params["alpha"],
-                )
-            if show_fit:
-                current_ax.plot(
-                    x,
-                    ycalc,
-                    plot_params["fit_style"],
-                    label=self._format_plot_label(
-                        plot_params["fit_label"], name, shared_axes
-                    ),
-                    color=plot_params["fit_color"],
-                    linewidth=plot_params["linewidth"],
-                    alpha=plot_params["alpha"],
-                )
-            if show_diff:
-                current_ax.plot(
-                    x,
-                    diff + offset,
-                    plot_params["diff_style"],
-                    label=self._format_plot_label(
-                        plot_params["diff_label"], name, shared_axes
-                    ),
-                    color=plot_params["diff_color"],
-                    linewidth=plot_params["linewidth"],
-                    alpha=plot_params["alpha"],
-                )
-                current_ax.axhline(
-                    offset,
-                    color="black",
-                )
-            meta = getattr(profile, "meta", None)
-            if meta:
-                self._set_axes_labels_from_metadata(meta, plot_params)
-            if plot_params["xlabel"] is not None:
-                current_ax.set_xlabel(plot_params["xlabel"])
-            if plot_params["ylabel"] is not None:
-                current_ax.set_ylabel(plot_params["ylabel"])
-            if plot_params["title"] is not None:
-                current_ax.set_title(
-                    self._format_plot_label(plot_params["title"], name, False)
-                )
-            elif ax is None:
-                current_ax.set_title(name)
-            if plot_params["legend"]:
-                current_ax.legend(loc=plot_params["legend_loc"], frameon=True)
-            if plot_params["grid"]:
-                current_ax.grid(True)
-            if (
-                plot_params["xmin"] is not None
-                or plot_params["xmax"] is not None
-            ):
-                current_ax.set_xlim(
-                    left=plot_params["xmin"], right=plot_params["xmax"]
-                )
-            fig.tight_layout()
-            figures.append(fig)
-            axes_list.append(current_ax)
-            if plot_params["show"] and ax is None:
-                plt.show()
+                if show_fit:
+                    current_ax.plot(
+                        x,
+                        ycalc,
+                        plot_params["fit_style"],
+                        label=self._format_plot_label(
+                            plot_params["fit_label"], name, shared_axes
+                        ),
+                        color=plot_params["fit_color"],
+                        linewidth=plot_params["linewidth"],
+                        alpha=plot_params["alpha"],
+                    )
+                if show_diff:
+                    current_ax.plot(
+                        x,
+                        diff + offset,
+                        plot_params["diff_style"],
+                        label=self._format_plot_label(
+                            plot_params["diff_label"], name, shared_axes
+                        ),
+                        color=plot_params["diff_color"],
+                        linewidth=plot_params["linewidth"],
+                        alpha=plot_params["alpha"],
+                    )
+                    current_ax.axhline(
+                        offset,
+                        color="black",
+                    )
+                meta = getattr(profile, "meta", None)
+                if meta:
+                    self._set_axes_labels_from_metadata(meta, plot_params)
+                if plot_params["xlabel"] is not None:
+                    current_ax.set_xlabel(plot_params["xlabel"])
+                if plot_params["ylabel"] is not None:
+                    current_ax.set_ylabel(plot_params["ylabel"])
+                if plot_params["title"] is not None:
+                    current_ax.set_title(
+                        self._format_plot_label(
+                            plot_params["title"], name, False
+                        )
+                    )
+                elif ax is None:
+                    current_ax.set_title(name)
+                if plot_params["legend"]:
+                    current_ax.legend(
+                        loc=plot_params["legend_loc"], frameon=True
+                    )
+                if plot_params["grid"]:
+                    current_ax.grid(True)
+                if (
+                    plot_params["xmin"] is not None
+                    or plot_params["xmax"] is not None
+                ):
+                    current_ax.set_xlim(
+                        left=plot_params["xmin"], right=plot_params["xmax"]
+                    )
+                fig.tight_layout()
+                figures.append(fig)
+                axes_list.append(current_ax)
+                if plot_params["show"] and ax is None:
+                    plt.show()
         if return_fig:
             if len(figures) == 1:
                 return figures[0], axes_list[0]
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 41d9146e..45687a21 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from numpy import linspace, pi, sin
 
 import diffpy.srfit.equation.literals as literals
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import FitContribution, FitRecipe, Profile
+from diffpy.srfit import FitContribution, FitRecipe, Profile
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_contribution.py b/tests/test_contribution.py
index 6c2f3059..eb63cd10 100644
--- a/tests/test_contribution.py
+++ b/tests/test_contribution.py
@@ -20,11 +20,9 @@
 import pytest
 from numpy import arange, array_equal, dot, sin
 
+from diffpy.srfit import FitContribution, Profile, ProfileGenerator
 from diffpy.srfit.exceptions import SrFitError
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.fitcontribution import FitContribution
 from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.parameter import Parameter
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.profile import Profile
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.profilegenerator import ProfileGenerator
 
 
 class TestContribution(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/test_fitrecipe.py b/tests/test_fitrecipe.py
index 228ae928..cbb92284 100644
--- a/tests/test_fitrecipe.py
+++ b/tests/test_fitrecipe.py
@@ -20,15 +20,18 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
+from bg_mpl_stylesheets.styles import all_styles
 from numpy import array_equal, dot, linspace, ones_like, pi, sin
 from scipy.optimize import leastsq
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import FitResults
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.fitcontribution import FitContribution
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.fitrecipe import FitRecipe
+from diffpy.srfit import (
+    FitContribution,
+    FitRecipe,
+    FitResults,
+    Profile,
+    ProfileParser,
+)
 from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.parameter import Parameter
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.profile import Profile
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.profileparser import ProfileParser
 
 matplotlib.use("Agg")
 
@@ -686,6 +689,24 @@ def test_plot_recipe_after_refinement(build_recipes_one_contribution):
     assert len(new_figs) == 1
 
 
+def test_plot_recipe_styles_only_its_own_figure(
+    build_recipes_one_contribution,
+):
+    # C1: A refined recipe is plotted.
+    # Expected: The srfit figure uses the bg-style stylesheet, and the
+    # global matplotlib style is the same after plotting as before.
+    recipe, _ = build_recipes_one_contribution
+    optimize_recipe(recipe)
+    plt.close("all")
+    expected_global_linewidth = plt.rcParams["axes.linewidth"]
+    _, ax = recipe.plot_recipe(show=False, return_fig=True)
+    actual_figure_linewidth = ax.spines["left"].get_linewidth()
+    expected_figure_linewidth = all_styles["bg-style"]["axes.linewidth"]
+    actual_global_linewidth = plt.rcParams["axes.linewidth"]
+    assert actual_figure_linewidth == expected_figure_linewidth
+    assert actual_global_linewidth == expected_global_linewidth
+
+
 def test_plot_recipe_two_contributions(build_recipe_two_contributions):
     # Case: Two contributions in recipe
     # expected: two figures created
diff --git a/tests/test_fitresults.py b/tests/test_fitresults.py
index d9be7317..ca52192d 100644
--- a/tests/test_fitresults.py
+++ b/tests/test_fitresults.py
@@ -20,12 +20,8 @@
 import pytest
 from scipy.optimize import leastsq
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.fitrecipe import FitRecipe
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.fitresults import (
-    FitResults,
-    initializeRecipe,
-    resultsDictionary,
-)
+from diffpy.srfit import FitRecipe, FitResults
+from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.fitresults import initializeRecipe, resultsDictionary
 
 # The fit results from the recipe fixture in conftest.py
 expected_fitresults = """\
diff --git a/tests/test_profile.py b/tests/test_profile.py
index 59ab81d1..3d7ca91b 100644
--- a/tests/test_profile.py
+++ b/tests/test_profile.py
@@ -21,9 +21,8 @@
 import pytest
 from numpy import allclose, arange, array, array_equal, ones_like
 
+from diffpy.srfit import FitContribution, Profile, ProfileParser
 from diffpy.srfit.exceptions import SrFitError
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import FitContribution, ProfileParser
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.profile import Profile
 
 
 class TestProfile(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/test_profilegenerator.py b/tests/test_profilegenerator.py
index e4ea0fa3..02dd317c 100644
--- a/tests/test_profilegenerator.py
+++ b/tests/test_profilegenerator.py
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@
 
 from numpy import arange, array_equal
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.profile import Profile
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.profilegenerator import ProfileGenerator
+from diffpy.srfit import Profile, ProfileGenerator
 
 
 class TestProfileGenerator(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/test_profileparser.py b/tests/test_profileparser.py
index 008482bb..7930c8a5 100644
--- a/tests/test_profileparser.py
+++ b/tests/test_profileparser.py
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from diffpy.srfit import ProfileParser
 from diffpy.srfit.exceptions import ParseError
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.profileparser import ProfileParser
 
 EXPECTED_META = {
     "wavelength": 0.1,
diff --git a/tests/test_recipeorganizer.py b/tests/test_recipeorganizer.py
index 26597a0b..36b4288a 100644
--- a/tests/test_recipeorganizer.py
+++ b/tests/test_recipeorganizer.py
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 import numpy
 import pytest
 
+from diffpy.srfit import Calculator
 from diffpy.srfit.equation.builder import EquationFactory
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.calculator import Calculator
 from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.parameter import Parameter
 from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.recipeorganizer import (
     RecipeContainer,
diff --git a/tests/test_weakrefcallable.py b/tests/test_weakrefcallable.py
index e27c029a..947fc8d8 100644
--- a/tests/test_weakrefcallable.py
+++ b/tests/test_weakrefcallable.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 import pickle
 import unittest
 
-from diffpy.srfit.fitbase import FitContribution
+from diffpy.srfit import FitContribution
 from diffpy.srfit.fitbase.parameter import Parameter
 from diffpy.srfit.util.weakrefcallable import WeakBoundMethod, weak_ref