News and Updates
3. Fables of Aesop: Arion Press Launches Ambitious 50th Anniversary Project
Arion Press is proud to present the Laureate Edition of Fables of Aesop. To commemorate its 50th anniversary, we invited 15 “Arion” artists with diverse styles and backgrounds to each select a fable to be rendered by letterpress as a relief print, whether in traditional wood block or more experimental technique.
To give shape and substance to the edition’s contemporary voice, Arion recruited two world-class talents: iconic multimedia artist, Kiki Smith, who collaborated on the presentation box; and satirist and comic author Daniel Handler who penned modern morals that restore the novelty of millennia-old fables for modern ears. All totaled, this publication brought together the work of 36 artists and craftspeople to create a book that pays tribute to the enduring power of the printed word.
The 15 prints that appear in the book are available for individual sale in signed editions limited to 35 copies. These are printed on heavier 250 gsm Somerset Satin and suitable for framing.
2. 2025 King Artist in Residence: Ala Ebtekar
Arion Press is thrilled to announce the 2025 King Artist in Residence will be Ala Ebtekar. A Bay Area native, Ebtekar is an acclaimed visual artist and faculty member at Stanford University, whose practice intertwines classical bookmaking with cutting-edge sciences and technologies. Known for his innovative work spanning from photography to illuminated manuscripts, Ebtekar personifies Arion’s mission of bringing traditional craft into the 21st century by interrogating contemporary scientific themes through centuries-old, Persian aesthetic traditions. The King Residency offers artists the unique opportunity to work on site with Arion’s legendary printing equipment to craft a fine press book from the cover up. Ebtekar will join the press during the winter months while he will creates, conceives, and executes a new vision of Isaac Asimov’s Nightfall alongside Arion’s team of expert craftspeople. Ebtekar will collaborate hand-in-hand with Arion’s foundry, pressroom, and bindery teams and enjoy access to an unparalleled suite of printing equipment and archives to envision his title while producing site specific new artwork timed to the lunar eclipse.
Since its founding in 1974, Arion Press has inhabited some of San Francisco’s most storied neighborhoods, from Chinatown to (pre-dot-com boom) South of Market to the Presidio. Now, as we mark our 50th year, we are proud to join the community at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, on the northern edge of the city. You can now find Arion Press and M&H Type, along with our 47 tons of historic equipment and century-old machinery, on the campus’ Landmark Building B. At the new Mark Jensen designed facility—which houses a letterpress room, type foundry, and book bindery on one level—our limited-edition books continue to flourish and be made by hand, from start to finish, from comma to cover. Our new neighbors include arts organizations such as FOR-SITE Foundation, Magic Theatre, and SF Cameraworks. The iconic location by the Bay, coupled with Fort Mason’s rich programming, allows more people to discover and appreciate our craft first hand.
1. Our New Home
Since its founding in 1974, Arion Press has inhabited some of San Francisco’s most storied neighborhoods, from Chinatown to (pre-dot-com boom) South of Market to the Presidio. Now, as we mark our 50th year, we are proud to join the vibrant campus at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, on the northern edge of the city. As of this fall, you can find Arion Press and M&H Type, along with our 47 tons of historic equipment and century-old machinery, bathed in natural sunlight of Landmark Building B. At the new facility designed by JENSEN Architects—which houses a letterpress room, type foundry, and book bindery on one level—our limited-edition books will continue to flourish and be made by hand from comma to cover, from start to finish. Our new neighbors include arts organizations such as FOR-SITE Foundation, Magic Theatre, and SF Cameraworks. The iconic location by the Bay, coupled with Fort Mason’s rich programming, allows exponentially more people to witness and experience our craft first hand.