ESOPUS

Arts periodical published by The Esopus Foundation Ltd (2003—2018). Format: Perfect-bound, 9 x 11.5 inches; 25 issues.

Called “a thing of lavish, eccentric beauty” by The New York Times, Esopus gained a fervent following of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries over the course of its existence. I founded the publication in 2003 with the mission of creating an unmediated, accessible space in which creative people and the general public could connect in meaningful ways. Over the past 15 years, I have edited and designed 25 issues featuring artists’ projects by Jenny Holzer, Kerry James Marshall, Ed Ruscha, and more than 75 other artists; literary contributions from the likes of Karl Ove Knausgaard, Francine Prose, and Matthew Weiner; facsimile reproductions from the archives of institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art and the New York Public Library; and a range of other offerings from a wide selection of filmmakers, musicians, poets, designers, and many other creators. VISIT WEBSITE

“Esopus stands along with Dave Eggers' McSweeney's for its driving cultural significance.”—Steven Heller, The Atlantic

“Once a year, a truly beautiful thing occurs in the bookstores of all 50 United States: new copies of Esopus magazine arrive. Esopus is a freewheeling treasure trove of a book, sumptuously designed and filled with often-elaborate projects by artists, writers, and others, as well as the results of deep dives into tantalizing archives.”—Andrew Russeth, ARTNews 

“Esopus — a melding of art, ethnography, and journalism — expands the definition of what a magazine can be.”—Caitlin Dover, Print

“An impossibly beautiful thing.”—Leon Neyfakh

“I still have every copy of Esopus I’ve ever received. It’s hard to describe any one issue because each one is not just a collection or retrospective of art, but art itself. Each copy is filled with beautiful photography, arresting layouts, wry humor, and sometimes three-dimensional elements that brilliantly bring art and ideas to life. I remember the first time I held one in my hands and flipped through it, surprised and delighted with each page: I thought, as I do of things that are truly original, ‘I didn’t know you could do this.’”—Matthew Weiner 

“I love Esopus because of its singularity; it is smart and inventive, and there are literally no other magazines like it. But I also love it because (if I could anthropomorphize it a bit) Esopus feels somewhat reserved, understated, shy even, and yet, eternally hopeful. It’s a cocktail of personality that I find mostly missing from the digital world.”—Nancy Smith, The Rumpus

“Esopus was the best and most extravagant platform for artists’ projects that I knew of. There seemed to be no restrictions on what it was willing to do, and the results were of the highest quality.”—Kerry James Marshall, Artforum